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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.25

Who is speaking and story frame

तं तदा मनुजा देवं सर्वदेवमयं हरिम् ।

यजन्ति विद्यया त्रय्या धर्मिष्ठा ब्रह्मवादिन: ॥ २५ ॥

taṁ tadā manujā devaṁ

sarva-deva-mayaṁ harim

yajanti vidyayā trayyā

dharmiṣṭhā brahma-vādinaḥ

Translation

In Tretā-yuga, those members of human society who are fixed in religiosity and are sincerely interested in achieving the Absolute Truth worship Lord Hari, who contains within Himself all the demigods. The Lord is worshiped by the rituals of sacrifice taught in the three Vedas.

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.

Sincere Seekers Cultivate Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    In Tretā-yuga, people are thoroughly religious and faithfully seek the Absolute Truth through the Vedic injunctions. They worship Lord Hari, who contains within Himself all the demigods.

  2. 2

    Unlike the people of Satya-yuga, they are not automatically perfect. They are inclined to become perfect through performing Vedic sacrifice.

  3. 3

    Although society is not automatically Kṛṣṇa conscious, people are highly inclined to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Therefore they strictly follow the Vedic injunctions for worship.

Key points from the purport
  • In Tretā-yuga human society is described as dharmiṣṭhāḥ, or thoroughly religious, and brahma-vādinaḥ, or faithfully seeking the Absolute Truth through the Vedic injunctions.
  • In other words, in Satya-yuga people are automatically perfect, whereas in Tretā-yuga people are inclined to become perfect through performing Vedic sacrifice.
  • In Tretā-yuga human society is not automatically Kṛṣṇa conscious, as it was in Satya-yuga, but people are still highly inclined to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, and thus they strictly follow the Vedic injunctions.

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:

The members of the other three varṇas, becoming fit for achieving the lotus feet of Hari by second birth through Vedic initiation ( śrauta-janma), nevertheless become confused by concocted interpretations of the Vedas. Presuming themselves to be great scholars, although not understanding the essential meaning of karma, they become flatterers of other deities in their greed for fruitive results and ridicule the devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamHim
  2. tadāthen
  3. manujāḥhuman beings
  4. devamthe Personality of Godhead
  5. sarva-deva-mayamwho contains within Himself all the demigods
  6. harimŚrī Hari
  7. yajantithey worship
  8. vidyayāwith the rituals
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religiosity”, “religious”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

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 can your desire to know the Absolute Truth become a more sincere commitment to worship?

Practice

Read the translation once slowly and express your intention to become Kṛṣṇa conscious through sincere worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySincere Seekers Cultivate Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 11.5.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.