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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 3: Liberation from the Illusory Energy
11.3.311.3.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.3.4

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Antarīkṣasince 11.3.3inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

एवं सृष्टानि भूतानि प्रविष्ट: पञ्चधातुभि: ।

एकधा दशधात्मानं विभजन्जुषते गुणान् ॥ ४ ॥

evaṁ sṛṣṭāni bhūtāni

praviṣṭaḥ pañca-dhātubhiḥ

ekadhā daśadhātmānaṁ

vibhajan juṣate guṇān

Translation

The Supersoul enters the material bodies of the created beings, activates the mind and senses, and thus causes the conditioned souls to approach the three modes of material nature for sense gratification.

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.

Turn the Senses Toward Loving Service

  1. 1

    The one Supersoul enters material bodies and activates the mind and senses. Through these faculties, conditioned souls engage with the modes of material nature.

  2. 2

    Forgetting their loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, souls develop illicit desires and become bound to the bitter results of fruitive activities. When love of Godhead awakens, all sensory activities can be engaged in His service.

  3. 3

    The Supersoul knows everyone’s heart. When a sincere soul aspires for spiritual perfection, the Lord frees that soul from material bondage and awakens the desire to serve Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The one Supersoul enters the gross material elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether) and uses the activated material mind to subtly divide the sensory activities of the conditioned souls among the five knowledge-acquiring senses (the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin) and, by a further gross division, the five working senses (the hands, legs, speech, genitals and anus).
  • When the conditioned souls forget their loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they develop illicit desires.
  • But if their love of Godhead is somehow or other awakened, the conditioned souls can dovetail all their sensory activities in the service of the Lord’s transcendental pastimes.

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

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Liberation from the Illusory Energy

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Appearing as the Supersoul, the Supreme Lord enters the material bodies of the created beings and activates the eleven senses of the conditioned souls. The conditioned soul misidentifies the created material body with his actual self and thus engages in various fruitive activities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamin the manner just described
  2. sṛṣṭānicreated
  3. bhūtānithe living beings
  4. praviṣṭaḥhaving entered
  5. pañca-dhātubhiḥ(created) by the five gross elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether)
  6. ekadhāonefold (as the overseer of the mind)
  7. daśadhātenfold (as the overseer of the five senses of perception and five organs of action)
  8. ātmānamHimself
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “love”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where do I expect to be served rather than seek to serve the Lord?

Practice

Offer a brief, sincere prayer asking the Lord to awaken your desire to use your senses in His service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTurn the Senses Toward Loving ServiceThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 11.3.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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