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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 11: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities
11.11.34-4111.11.43-45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.11.42

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.11.29-32inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

सूर्योऽग्निर्ब्राह्मणा गावो वैष्णव: खं मरुज्जलम् ।

भूरात्मा सर्वभूतानि भद्र पूजापदानि मे ॥ ४२ ॥

sūryo ’gnir brāhmaṇā gāvo

vaiṣṇavaḥ khaṁ maruj jalam

bhūr ātmā sarva-bhūtāni

bhadra pūjā-padāni me

Translation

O saintly Uddhava, please know that you may worship Me in the sun, fire, brāhmaṇas, cows, Vaiṣṇavas, sky, wind, water, earth, individual soul and all living entities.

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 Kṛṣṇa’s Presence Everywhere

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is the source of everything: everything is within Him, and He is within everything. Understanding this helps one avoid a materialistic conception of Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord does not exist only in a particular time or place. He exists at all times and in all places, and one may search for and find Him within all things.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s all-pervading presence does not mean that all things are Kṛṣṇa. He remains the supreme, all-pervading Personality of Godhead whom one should worship.

Key points from the purport
  • Unless one understands that Lord Kṛṣṇa is all-pervading and that everything is resting within the Lord, one’s Kṛṣṇa consciousness is third class and materialistic.
  • To avoid a materialistic conception of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one should not think that the Lord exists only in a particular time and place.
  • Rather, one should understand that He exists at all times and in all places and that one may search for and find Lord Kṛṣṇa within all things.

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

Uncertainty → Clarity. The coming separation makes the instruction personally urgent.

Chapters 10–20 of Canto 11: Kṛṣṇa's teachings on self, yoga and wisdom. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Having heard these instructions from Lord Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava further desired to understand the characteristics of a factually saintly person and the different aspects of devotional practice. Lord Kṛṣṇa replied that a real sādhu, or Vaiṣṇava, is qualified with the following characteristics.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūryaḥthe sun
  2. agniḥfire
  3. brāhmaṇāḥthe brāhmaṇas
  4. gāvaḥthe cows
  5. vaiṣṇavaḥthe devotee of the Lord
  6. khamthe sky
  7. marutthe wind
  8. jalamwater
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 11.11

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.11

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.11

    In this verse: “materialistic”

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

Do I think of Kṛṣṇa as present only in certain places, or remember that everything rests within Him?

Practice

When you see water or the earth today, pause to remember Lord Kṛṣṇa’s presence and offer Him a brief prayer.

Live this todayRecognize Kṛṣṇa’s Presence EverywhereThis 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 11.11.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.