1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
11.7.2111.7.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.7.22

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 11.7.19inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

एकद्वित्रिचतुष्पादो बहुपादस्तथापद: ।

बह्‍व्‍य: सन्ति पुर: सृष्टास्तासां मे पौरुषी प्रिया ॥ २२ ॥

eka-dvi-tri-catuṣ-pādo

bahu-pādas tathāpadaḥ

bahvyaḥ santi puraḥ sṛṣṭās

tāsāṁ me pauruṣī priyā

Translation

In this world there are many kinds of created bodies — some with one leg, others with two, three, four or more legs, and still others with no legs — but of all these, the human form is actually dear to Me.

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.

Treasure the Human Opportunity

  1. 1

    The world contains many kinds of created bodies. Among them, the human form is particularly dear to the Lord.

  2. 2

    The ultimate purpose of material creation is to help conditioned souls return home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    This return is especially possible in human life. The human form is therefore especially dear to the compassionate Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The ultimate purpose of material creation is to facilitate the return of the conditioned souls back home, back to Godhead.
  • Since this redemption of the conditioned souls is especially possible in the human form of life, naturally this form is particularly dear to the compassionate Personality of Godhead.

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:

For this reason the human form of life is most dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this regard, Lord Kṛṣṇa began to describe an ancient conversation between a brāhmaṇa avadhūta and the great king Yadu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ekaone
  2. dvitwo
  3. trithree
  4. catuḥfour
  5. pādaḥhaving legs
  6. bahu-pādaḥhaving many legs
  7. tathāalso
  8. apadaḥhaving no legs
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: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “compassionate”

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 am I using the human opportunity that is so dear to the Lord?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to reflect on returning to Godhead as the purpose of your human life.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTreasure the Human OpportunityThis 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 11.7.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories