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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 11.7.73

Who is speaking and story frame

एवं कुटुम्ब्यशान्तात्मा द्वन्द्वाराम: पतत्रिवत् ।

पुष्णन् कुटुम्बं कृपण: सानुबन्धोऽवसीदति ॥ ७३ ॥

evaṁ kuṭumby aśāntātmā

dvandvārāmaḥ patatri-vat

puṣṇan kuṭumbaṁ kṛpaṇaḥ

sānubandho ’vasīdati

Translation

In this way, one who is too attached to family life becomes disturbed at heart. Like the pigeon, he tries to find pleasure in mundane sex attraction. Busily engaged in maintaining his own family, the miserly person is fated to suffer greatly, along with all his family members.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Excessive Family Attachment Disturbs the Heart

  1. 1

    One who is too attached to family life becomes disturbed at heart.

  2. 2

    Like the pigeon, such a person tries to find pleasure in mundane sex attraction.

  3. 3

    Busily maintaining his own family, the miserly person is fated to suffer greatly along with his family members.

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:

From the pigeon he had learned how too much affection and excessive attachment are not good for one. This human body is the open door to liberation, but if one becomes attached to family life like the pigeon, one is compared to a person who has climbed up to a high place just to fall down again.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. kuṭumbīa family man
  3. aśāntaunpeaceful
  4. ātmāhis soul
  5. dvandvain material dualities (like male and female)
  6. ārāmaḥtaking his pleasure
  7. patatri-vatlike this bird
  8. puṣṇanmaintaining
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”

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

Where does my care for family become excessive attachment that disturbs my heart?

Practice

Notice one family-related worry today and consider whether excessive attachment is intensifying it.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayExcessive Family Attachment Disturbs the HeartThis 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 11.7.73? Get an answer from the verses themselves.