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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 9: Detachment from All that Is Material
11.9.911.9.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.9.10

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly brāhmaṇasince 11.9.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe avadhūta → King Yadu

वासे बहूनां कलहो भवेद् वार्ता द्वयोरपि ।

एक एव वसेत्तस्मात् कुमार्या इव कङ्कण: ॥ १० ॥

vāse bahūnāṁ kalaho

bhaved vārtā dvayor api

eka eva vaset tasmāt

kumāryā iva kaṅkaṇaḥ

Translation

When many people live together in one place there will undoubtedly be quarreling. And even if only two people live together there will be frivolous conversation and disagreement. Therefore, to avoid conflict, one should live alone, as we learn from the example of the bracelet of the young girl.

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.

Seek Association Centered on Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The bracelet illustrates how living together can bring quarrels and frivolous conversation. Sages devoted to philosophical speculation therefore live alone to avoid endless arguments.

  2. 2

    The devotional lesson is to avoid intimate association with those opposed to devotional service, not to abandon the company of devotees. Pure Vaiṣṇavas freely gather to glorify Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    When everyone's purpose is the Lord's pleasure, competing material desires do not disrupt their association. Devotional service is the goal, and one who keeps the company of the Lord's devotees is understood to be living alone.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, one should give up the association of those who are not devoted to the Supreme Lord.”
  • Therefore, one should remain in those places where the Supreme Lord is properly worshiped according to the Vedic standard.
  • On the other hand, one should stay with many devotees, because such association awards liberation.”

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.9.10 quotesSB 3.25.34

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.34): “A pure devotee, who is attached to the activities of devotional service and who always engages in the service of My lotus feet, never desires to become one with Me.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 9: Detachment from All that Is Material

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The instruction received from the young girl who kept just one conchshell bracelet on each wrist is that one should remain alone and thus steady one’s mind. Then only will it be possible for one to fix one’s mind completely on the Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vāsein a residence
  2. bahūnāmof many people
  3. kalahaḥquarrel
  4. bhavetwill be
  5. vārtāconversation
  6. dvayoḥof two people
  7. apieven
  8. ekaḥalone
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.9

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.9

    In this verse: “philosophical”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.9

    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

Does my close association help me seek Kṛṣṇa's pleasure or encourage competing material desires?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today with a devotee glorifying Kṛṣṇa or chanting His holy name together.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 3.25.34

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.9's connections

Live this todaySeek Association Centered on KṛṣṇaThis 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 11.9.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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