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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 8: The Story of Piṅgalā
11.8.3711.8.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.8.38

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The prostitute Piṅgalāsince 11.8.30inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe avadhūta → King YaduPiṅgalā → herself

मैवं स्युर्मन्दभाग्याया: क्लेशा निर्वेदहेतव: ।

येनानुबन्धं निर्हृत्य पुरुष: शममृच्छति ॥ ३८ ॥

maivaṁ syur manda-bhāgyāyāḥ

kleśā nirveda-hetavaḥ

yenānubandhaṁ nirhṛtya

puruṣaḥ śamam ṛcchati

Translation

A person who has developed detachment can give up the bondage of material society, friendship and love, and a person who undergoes great suffering gradually becomes, out of hopelessness, detached and indifferent to the material world. Thus, due to my great suffering, such detachment awoke in my heart; yet how could I have undergone such merciful suffering if I were actually unfortunate? Therefore, I am in fact fortunate and have received the mercy of the Lord. He must somehow or other be pleased with me.

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.

Recognizing Mercy Within Disappointment

  1. 1

    Detachment enables a person to give up the bondage of material society, friendship and love.

  2. 2

    Piṅgalā sees that her great suffering awakened detachment in her heart. The loss of her hopes for material enjoyment changed her outlook.

  3. 3

    She therefore considers herself fortunate rather than unfortunate. She recognizes the Lord's mercy in the detachment that her suffering brought.

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 received from her is that hopes for sense gratification are the root cause of all suffering. Therefore, only one who has given up such hankering can fix himself in meditation upon the Personality of Godhead and achieve transcendental peace.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mānot
  2. evamthus
  3. syuḥthey could be
  4. manda-bhāgyāyāḥof a woman who is truly unfortunate
  5. kleśāḥmiseries
  6. nirvedaof detachment
  7. hetavaḥthe causes
  8. yenaby which detachment
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.8

    In this verse: “detachment”, “indifferent”, “give up”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.8

    In this verse: “mercy”, “merciful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.8

    In this verse: “material”

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

Has a disappointment helped me loosen an attachment that was binding me?

Practice

Write one sentence about a past disappointment that helped you become less attached, and acknowledge the benefit you received.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognizing Mercy Within DisappointmentThis 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 11.8.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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