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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
11.5.1611.5.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.17

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

एत आत्महनोऽशान्ता अज्ञाने ज्ञानमानिन: ।

सीदन्त्यकृतकृत्या वै कालध्वस्तमनोरथा: ॥ १७ ॥

eta ātma-hano ’śāntā

ajñāne jñāna-māninaḥ

sīdanty akṛta-kṛtyā vai

kāla-dhvasta-manorathāḥ

Translation

The killers of the soul are never peaceful, because they consider that human intelligence is ultimately meant for expanding material life. Thus neglecting their real, spiritual duties, they are always in distress. They are filled with great hopes and dreams, but unfortunately these are always destroyed by the inevitable march of time.

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.

Make Time for Your Spiritual Duty

  1. 1

    Those who think human intelligence is meant only for expanding material life neglect their real spiritual duties. Despite presuming to have knowledge, they remain without peace.

  2. 2

    Their hopes and plans cannot withstand the inevitable march of time. Neglect of spiritual duty leaves them in distress.

  3. 3

    The purport describes the destination of those who neglect the soul as worlds covered by darkness and ignorance. Its warning urges us not to waste human life.

Key points from the purport
  • There is a similar verse in Śrī Īśopaniṣad (3):

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 5: Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

They are maddened by material opulences and pleasures, devoid of real discrimination and intelligence and always function on the mental platform. But such attachment to family life and so on is most natural for the mass of people, even though it is against the best advice of śāstra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etethese
  2. ātma-hanaḥkillers of the self
  3. aśāntāḥdevoid of peace
  4. ajñānein ignorance
  5. jñāna-māninaḥpresuming to have knowledge
  6. sīdantithey suffer
  7. akṛtafailing to perform
  8. kṛtyāḥtheir duty
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: “duties”, “duty”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “distress”

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

Which material ambition is taking time away from my spiritual duty?

Practice

Pause one material project today long enough to give five attentive minutes to your spiritual duty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Time for Your Spiritual DutyThis 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 11.5.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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