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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 5: Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva
11.5.1311.5.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.14

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Camasasince 11.5.2inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

ये त्वनेवंविदोऽसन्त: स्तब्धा: सदभिमानिन: ।

पशून् द्रुह्यन्ति विश्रब्धा: प्रेत्य खादन्ति ते च तान् ॥ १४ ॥

ye tv anevaṁ-vido ’santaḥ

stabdhāḥ sad-abhimāninaḥ

paśūn druhyanti viśrabdhāḥ

pretya khādanti te ca tān

Translation

Those sinful persons who are ignorant of actual religious principles, yet consider themselves to be completely pious, without compunction commit violence against innocent animals who are fully trusting in them. In their next lives, such sinful persons will be eaten by the same creatures they have killed in this world.

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.

Religious Pride Cannot Excuse Animal Cruelty

  1. 1

    Claiming to be pious does not excuse violence against innocent animals. The purport connects such cruelty with failure to accept the supremacy and law of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    An animal may trust the person who feeds and protects it, without knowing that this person intends to kill it. Slaughter betrays that helpless creature’s trust.

  3. 3

    The purport teaches that killing animals or eating meat creates a debt to those living beings. The offender must repay that debt by having his own body consumed in a future life.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus the animal gradually accepts its would-be killer as its protector and master.
  • It is clearly stated in Vedic literature that cruel masters who kill innocent animals will undoubtedly be killed in the next life by a similar process.
  • The meat-eater must pay his debt by contributing his own body to be consumed in the next life.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.5.14 quotesSB 4.25.7

After you die, they will angrily pierce your body with iron horns.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 5: Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Engaging in animal slaughter apart from that necessary for performance of sacrifice, these human animals themselves suffer violence in the next life. If because of excessive greed for one’s own pleasure one commits violence against living beings, he is also attacking Lord Śrī Hari, who is present in the bodies of all living entities as the Supersoul.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yethose who
  2. tubut
  3. anevam-vidaḥnot knowing these facts
  4. asantaḥvery impious
  5. stabdhāḥpresumptuous
  6. sat-abhimāninaḥconsidering themselves saintly
  7. paśūnanimals
  8. druhyantithey harm
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “offender”

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

Do my choices toward animals agree with my wish to follow the Supreme Lord’s laws?

Practice

Choose a meal without meat today, remembering the innocent animals whose lives are spared.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 4.25.7

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.5's connections

Live this todayReligious Pride Cannot Excuse Animal CrueltyThis 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 11.5.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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