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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
11.8.4311.9.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.8.44

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The avadhūtasince 11.8.43inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe avadhūta → King Yadu

आशा हि परमं दु:खं नैराश्यं परमं सुखम् ।

यथा सञ्छिद्य कान्ताशां सुखं सुष्वाप पिङ्गला ॥ ४४ ॥

āśā hi paramaṁ duḥkhaṁ

nairāśyaṁ paramaṁ sukham

yathā sañchidya kāntāśāṁ

sukhaṁ suṣvāpa piṅgalā

Translation

Material desire is undoubtedly the cause of the greatest unhappiness, and freedom from such desire is the cause of the greatest happiness. Therefore, completely cutting off her desire to enjoy so-called lovers, Piṅgalā very happily went to sleep.

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.

Freedom From Material Desire Brings Happiness

  1. 1

    Material desire is the cause of the greatest unhappiness. The verse directs attention to desire itself as the source of suffering.

  2. 2

    Freedom from material desire is the cause of the greatest happiness. Happiness comes from giving up such desire, rather than fulfilling it.

  3. 3

    Piṅgalā completely cut off her desire to enjoy so-called lovers. Freed from that longing, she very happily went to sleep.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Eighth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Story of Piṅgalā.”

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 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. āśāmaterial desire
  2. hicertainly
  3. paramamthe greatest
  4. duḥkhamunhappiness
  5. nairāśyamfreedom from material desires
  6. paramamthe greatest
  7. sukhamhappiness
  8. yathāin that way
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: “material”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “lovers”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.8

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

Am I expecting happiness from fulfilling a material desire, or can I consider the happiness of letting it go?

Practice

Before sleeping tonight, identify one material longing that has troubled you and consciously set aside the wish to fulfill it.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFreedom From Material Desire Brings HappinessThis 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 11.8.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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