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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 11.8.14

Who is speaking and story frame

नाधिगच्छेत् स्त्रियं प्राज्ञ: कर्हिचिन्मृत्युमात्मन: ।

बलाधिकै: स हन्येत गजैरन्यैर्गजो यथा ॥ १४ ॥

nādhigacchet striyaṁ prājñaḥ

karhicin mṛtyum ātmanaḥ

balādhikaiḥ sa hanyeta

gajair anyair gajo yathā

Translation

A man possessing intelligent discrimination should not under any circumstances try to exploit the beautiful form of a woman for his sense gratification. Just as an elephant trying to enjoy a she-elephant is killed by other bull elephants also enjoying her company, one trying to enjoy a lady’s company can at any moment be killed by her other lovers who are stronger than he.

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.

Sensual Exploitation Brings Danger

  1. 1

    A person with intelligent discrimination should not exploit a woman’s beauty for sense gratification.

  2. 2

    An elephant seeking a she-elephant’s company may be killed by stronger rival elephants. The verse uses this example to show the danger of competing for sensual enjoyment.

  3. 3

    Jealous rivals may turn violent, and the purport points to crimes of passion. Such danger is another disadvantage of material life.

Key points from the purport
  • Just as one is enchanted by the beautiful form of a woman, many other men will also be enchanted, and there is danger that they will be stronger than oneself and may even jealously kill one.

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 8: The Story of Piṅgalā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Similarly, the man who becomes attached to the form of woman falls down into the deep well of material life and is destroyed. The instruction received from the honey thief is that just as he steals the honey collected with great effort by the honeybee, a person in the renounced order of life has the privilege of enjoying before anyone else the food and other valuable things purchased by the hard-earned money of the householders.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. na adhigacchethe should not approach to enjoy
  2. striyama woman
  3. prājñaḥone who can intelligently discriminate
  4. karhicitat any time
  5. mṛtyumdeath personified
  6. ātmanaḥfor oneself
  7. balain strength
  8. adhikaiḥby those who are superior
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 11.8

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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.8

    In this verse: “lovers”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.8

    In this verse: “danger”

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 I exercise discrimination instead of treating another person as a source of enjoyment?

Practice

Notice one appearance-focused thought today and consciously decline to dwell on it for sensual enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySensual Exploitation Brings DangerThis 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 11.8.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.