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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.3.7

Who is speaking and story frame

इत्थं कर्मगतीर्गच्छन्बह्वभद्रवहा: पुमान् ।

आभूतसम्प्लवात्सर्गप्रलयावश्न‍ुतेऽवश: ॥ ७ ॥

itthaṁ karma-gatīr gacchan

bahv-abhadra-vahāḥ pumān

ābhūta-samplavāt sarga-

pralayāv aśnute ’vaśaḥ

Translation

Thus the conditioned living entity is forced to experience repeated birth and death. Impelled by the reactions of his own activities, he helplessly wanders from one inauspicious situation to another, suffering from the moment of creation until the time of cosmic annihilation.

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 Conditioned Soul Is Not Equal to God

  1. 1

    The conditioned living entity helplessly experiences repeated birth and death, driven by the reactions of his own activities.

  2. 2

    He wanders from one inauspicious situation to another, suffering from creation until cosmic annihilation.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Madhvācārya warns that considering such a helpless living entity equal to God in all respects leads to the darkest regions of the universe.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Madhvācārya, after hearing that the living entity is repeatedly subjected to birth and death within the material world, if one still considers such a helpless entity equal to God in all respects one will surely fall into the darkest regions of the universe, from which it is difficult to rise.

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:

Impelled by the reactions of his own activities, he repeatedly takes birth in various species of life and thus suffers greatly until the time of the cosmic annihilation. When the annihilation is imminent, the soul of the universal form withdraws the entire material creation within Himself, and then He Himself enters into the original cause of all causes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itthamin this way
  2. karma-gatīḥthe destinations determined by his past activities
  3. gacchanobtaining
  4. bahu-abhadramuch that is inauspicious
  5. vahāḥwhich involve
  6. pumānthe living being
  7. ābhūta-samplavātuntil the dissolution of the created universe
  8. sarga-pralayaubirth and death
  9. aśnutehe experiences
  10. avaśaḥhelplessly
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “suffering”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “death”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the living entity’s helplessness challenge the idea that we are equal to God in every respect?

Practice

Take one minute to reflect on the difference between your limited control and God’s position.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Conditioned Soul Is Not Equal to GodThis 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 11.3.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.