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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 11 · Chapter 28: Jñāna-yoga
11.28.4111.28.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.28.42

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.28.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

न हि तत् कुशलाद‍ृत्यं तदायासो ह्यपार्थक: ।

अन्तवत्त्वाच्छरीरस्य फलस्येव वनस्पते: ॥ ४२ ॥

na hi tat kuśalādṛtyaṁ

tad-āyāso hy apārthakaḥ

antavattvāc charīrasya

phalasyeva vanaspateḥ

Translation

This mystic bodily perfection is not valued very highly by those expert in transcendental knowledge. Indeed, they consider endeavor for such perfection useless, since the soul, like a tree, is permanent, but the body, like a tree’s fruit, is subject to destruction.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Soul Endures; the Body Does Not

  1. 1

    A tree’s fruit exists for a short time, while the tree may live for thousands of years. Similarly, the spirit soul is eternal, but the material body is destroyed relatively quickly.

  2. 2

    Even when preserved as long as possible, the body remains subject to destruction. It should never be equated with the eternally existing spirit soul.

  3. 3

    Those who actually have spiritual knowledge are not interested in material mystic perfections. They consider endeavor for such bodily perfection useless.

Key points from the purport
  • The example given here is of a tree that seasonally bears fruit.
  • The fruit exists for a very short time, whereas the tree may exist for thousands of years.
  • Those who are actually intelligent, who actually have spiritual knowledge, are not interested in material mystic perfections.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Striving → Complete devotional trust. The Lord redirects Uddhava toward enduring loving service.

Chapters 21–29 of Canto 11: Spiritual practice culminating in bhakti-yoga. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 28: Jñāna-yoga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

An intelligent person is therefore uninterested in this kind of process. Rather, by taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, an aspiring devotee who is seriously dedicated to the Lord rids himself of all disturbances and becomes empowered to attain the highest perfection, the full bliss of spiritual life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.28
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. hiindeed
  3. tatthat
  4. kuśalaby those expert in transcendental knowledge
  5. ādṛtyamto be respected
  6. tatof that
  7. āyāsaḥthe endeavor
  8. hicertainly
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.28

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “spirit soul”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.28

    In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering that the soul is eternal change the importance I give to bodily perfection?

Practice

Today, pause for a moment and reflect: “My body is temporary, but I am an eternal spirit soul.”

Live this todayThe Soul Endures; the Body Does NotThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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