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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.11
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम् ।
धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ ॥ ११ ॥
balaṁ balavatāṁ cāhaṁ
kāma-rāga-vivarjitam
dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu
kāmo ’smi bharatarṣabha
I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O lord of the Bhāratas [Arjuna].
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Kṛṣṇa is strength free from passion and desire, and sex life that follows religious principles.
Prabhupāda explains that sex life is only for having children, whom parents must raise to be Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Use your strength to protect the weak, not for personal aggression.
These notes cover verses 7.8–11
Krishna is the essence and cause of everything within the modes of material nature as follows:
Taste of Water — Taste is the active principle of water e.g. No-one likes seawater
Attraction of water depends on purity of water
Pure taste is one of the energies of the Lord
Impersonalists perceive the Lord as the taste; but the personalists glorify the Lord for supplying the water
Light of Sun and moon — Originally comes from Brahmajyoti (impersonal effulgence)
OM of Vedic mantras
Om is the transcendental sound in the beginning of every Vedic hymn
Addresses the Supreme Lord
Impersonalists prefer to vibrate Omkara because they are very much afraid of addressing Krishna by His innumerable names
Sound of Ether
Ability of Man Texts 7.8 — 7.11 continued…
Fragrance of Earth — “Punya” refers to uncontaminated original flavor/smell/taste which permeates everything
‘Punya’ means that which is not decomposed or that which is original
Heat of Fire (Vibhavasau) — Fire in factories/cooking/digestive fire
Indigestion is due to low temperature in the belly
Life of all living being — Duration of man’s life is also due to Krishna
By Krishna’s grace one can prolong or diminish it
Penance of Ascetics
Original seed (Bijam) of all existence (Source of everything)
Seed of all 8.4 million species
Ref. Vedic Literatures: Brahman is the source of everything
Krishna is Parabrahman – The Supreme Spirit
Impersonal Brahman is situated in the personal aspect
Krishna is the original root of all that exists and thus He is the maintainer for everything (Ref. Katha Upanisad 2.2.13)
Intelligence of Intelligent
Prowess of all Powerful men
Strength of Strong — Devoid of passion and desires (strength should be applied to protect the weak, not for personal aggression)
Regulated Sex life of Religious Principles (Dharma) — used for propagation of Krishna conscious children
Texts 7.11 & 7.12
Text 7.12 provides a summary that Krishna is the origin of all:
Krishna is the source of both matter and spirit
Can be seen in the world when we view all existence as a combination of Krishna’s material and spiritual energies. He is also the active essence of everything
Although Krishna is not under His energies, the three modes, all else in material existence is manifested by combination of goodness, passion and ignorance
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 7.11 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?
Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.