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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 7: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Uddhava
11.7.1411.7.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.7.15

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.7.14inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

त्यागोऽयं दुष्करो भूमन् कामानां विषयात्मभि: ।

सुतरां त्वयि सर्वात्मन्नभक्तैरिति मे मति: ॥ १५ ॥

tyāgo ’yaṁ duṣkaro bhūman

kāmānāṁ viṣayātmabhiḥ

sutarāṁ tvayi sarvātmann

abhaktair iti me matiḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, O Supreme Soul, for those whose minds are attached to sense gratification, and especially for those bereft of devotion unto You, such renunciation of material enjoyment is most difficult to perform. That is my opinion.

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.

Devotion Makes Renunciation Possible

  1. 1

    Uddhava explains that renouncing material enjoyment is very difficult for those attached to sense gratification. It is especially difficult for those without devotion to the Lord.

  2. 2

    Materialistic persons desire objects for their own gratification rather than for devotional service. Their minds are disturbed, making renunciation virtually impossible.

  3. 3

    Those truly devoted to the Supreme Lord accept what is suitable for His loving service. They do not accept things merely for personal gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • Those who are truly devoted to the Supreme Lord do not accept anything for their personal gratification but rather accept those things suitable to be offered in the Lord’s loving service.
  • The word viṣayātmabhiḥ indicates those who desire material objects for their personal gratification instead of for the devotional service of the Lord.
  • The minds of such materialistic persons are suitably disturbed, and it is virtually impossible for such persons to renounce material enjoyment.

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

Grief and dependence → Detachment. The temporary world becomes a source of spiritual instruction.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 11: The avadhuta's twenty-four teachers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Uddhava

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Uddhava then stated that renouncing material things in a spirit of detachment is the source of the highest auspiciousness, but such renunciation is certainly extremely difficult to accomplish for living entities other than the devotees of the Supreme Lord, because they are very attached to sense gratification.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tyāgaḥrenunciation
  2. ayamthis
  3. duṣkaraḥdifficult to perform
  4. bhūmanO my Lord
  5. kāmānāmof material enjoyment
  6. viṣayasense gratification
  7. ātmabhiḥby those dedicated to
  8. sutarāmespecially
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.7

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotional service”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “renouncing”

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 I want the things I use for my own enjoyment or for the Lord’s service?

Practice

Choose one possession today and use it in a small act of devotional service rather than personal gratification.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Makes Renunciation PossibleThis 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 11.7.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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