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

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.8.30

Who is speaking and story frame

पिङ्गलोवाच

अहो मे मोहविततिं पश्यताविजितात्मन: ।

या कान्तादसत: कामं कामये येन बालिशा ॥ ३० ॥

piṅgalovāca

aho me moha-vitatiṁ

paśyatāvijitātmanaḥ

yā kāntād asataḥ kāmaṁ

kāmaye yena bāliśā

Translation

The prostitute Piṅgalā said: Just see how greatly illusioned I am! Because I cannot control my mind, just like a fool I desire lusty pleasure from an insignificant man.

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.

Recognize the Illusion of Sense Enjoyment

  1. 1

    Piṅgalā recognizes her illusion: with an uncontrolled mind, she had sought lusty pleasure from an insignificant man.

  2. 2

    Indifference to the Absolute Truth is the cause of material life. The conditioned soul imagines himself the lord and enjoyer and takes sense gratification as life’s purpose.

  3. 3

    The more one tries to enjoy the material world, the more illusion increases. Piṅgalā now admits that her pursuit of lovers had been foolish.

Key points from the purport
  • In material existence all of the senses are attracted by different objects, and thus the conditioned soul becomes a first-class fool.
  • The conditioned soul considers himself to be the lord and enjoyer of the material world and considers the purpose of life to be sense gratification.
  • Thus she says, “I was a great fool.”

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:

The instruction of the moth is that just as he becomes enticed by the fire and gives up his life, the fool who cannot control his senses becomes enchanted by the forms of women decorated with gold ornaments and fine clothing. Chasing after these embodiments of the divine illusory energy of the Lord, he loses his life untimely and falls down into the most horrible hell.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. piṅgalāPiṅgalā
  2. uvācasaid
  3. ahooh
  4. memy
  5. mohaof illusion
  6. vitatimexpansion
  7. paśyatajust see, everyone
  8. avijita-ātmanaḥof one whose mind is not controlled
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 11.8

    In this verse: “illusioned”, “lusty”, “illusion”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.8

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “lovers”

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 am I treating sense gratification as though it were the purpose of my life?

Practice

Pause before one pleasure-seeking impulse today and ask whether following it will deepen your illusion.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the Illusion of Sense EnjoymentThis 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 11.8.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.