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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 14: Lord Kṛṣṇa Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava
11.14.1511.14.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.14.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

निरपेक्षं मुनिं शान्तं निर्वैरं समदर्शनम् ।

अनुव्रजाम्यहं नित्यं पूयेयेत्यङ्‍‍घ्रिरेणुभि: ॥ १६ ॥

nirapekṣaṁ muniṁ śāntaṁ

nirvairaṁ sama-darśanam

anuvrajāmy ahaṁ nityaṁ

pūyeyety aṅghri-reṇubhiḥ

Translation

With the dust of My devotees’ lotus feet I desire to purify the material worlds, which are situated within Me. Thus, I always follow the footsteps of My pure devotees, who are free from all personal desire, rapt in thought of My pastimes, peaceful, without any feelings of enmity, and of equal disposition everywhere.

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.

Loving Exchange Between Kṛṣṇa and His Devotees

  1. 1

    Pure devotees are peaceful, free from personal desire and enmity, and equal in their disposition. They meditate on the Lord’s pastimes and consider how to assist His mission.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and has no impurity. Yet He follows His devotees and desires to purify the universes within Him with the dust of their lotus feet.

  3. 3

    Pure devotional service depends upon the dust of the devotees’ lotus feet, and through that service one experiences transcendental bliss. These pastimes express love between the Lord and His devotees, not material logic.

Key points from the purport
  • Still, the Lord desires to purify the universes situated within Him by taking the dust of the lotus feet of His pure devotees.
  • Without the dust of the lotus feet of the devotees, it is not possible to engage in pure devotional service, without which one cannot directly experience transcendental bliss.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa thought, “I have established this strict rule that one can enjoy My transcendental bliss only through devotional service obtained from the dust of the lotus feet of My devotees.

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 14: Lord Kṛṣṇa Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Pure devotion, having the power to purify the heart, enables one to achieve the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and because the devotee is very dear to the Lord and is always close to Him, he is able in turn to purify the entire universe.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nirapekṣamwithout personal desire
  2. munimalways thinking of assisting Me in My pastimes
  3. śāntampeaceful
  4. nirvairamnot inimical to anyone
  5. sama-darśanamequal consciousness everywhere
  6. anuvrajāmifollow
  7. ahamI
  8. nityamalways
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.14

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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “purify”

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

How can I cultivate greater respect for the Lord’s pure devotees?

Practice

Offer a respectful prayer for the mercy of Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotees and the opportunity to serve.

Live this todayLoving Exchange Between Kṛṣṇa and His DevoteesThis 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 11.14.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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