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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

11.14.18 11.14.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.19

Mukti· Liberation

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

यथाग्नि: सुसमृद्धार्चि: करोत्येधांसि भस्मसात् ।

तथा मद्विषया भक्तिरुद्धवैनांसि कृत्‍स्‍नश: ॥ १९ ॥

yathāgniḥ su-samṛddhārciḥ

karoty edhāṁsi bhasmasāt

tathā mad-viṣayā bhaktir

uddhavaināṁsi kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

My dear Uddhava, just as a blazing fire turns firewood into ashes, similarly, devotion unto Me completely burns to ashes sins committed by My devotees.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Devotion Burns Sinful Reactions

1
Devotion to Kṛṣṇa is compared to a blazing fire that completely burns firewood to ashes. Such devotion burns away the devotee’s sinful reactions.
2
A sincere devotee who accepts Kṛṣṇa as life’s only goal may accidentally stumble through immaturity or previous habits. When this happens without premeditation or indifference, the Lord immediately burns away the reactions.
3
Committing sin on the strength of chanting the holy name is the greatest offense. Such an attitude cannot be compared to a blazing fire of love for Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport

One should carefully note that the Lord refers to devotion that is like a blazing fire.
To commit sinful activity on the strength of chanting the holy name is the greatest offense, and the devotion of one who commits this offense cannot be compared to a blazing fire of love for Kṛṣṇa.
But if even by chance the devotee accidentally falls down without premeditation or indifference, the Lord immediately burns to ashes his sinful reactions, just as a blazing fire immediately consumes an insignificant piece of wood.

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· 2

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.1.15

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.19) Lord Kṛṣṇa tells Uddhava: “My dear Uddhava, devotional service in relationship with Me is like a blazing fire that can burn to ashes all the fuel of sinful activities supplied to it.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.61

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.19) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.14

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

yathājust as
agniḥfire
su-samṛddhablazing
arciḥwhose flames
karotiturns
edhāṁsifirewood
bhasma-sātinto ashes
tathāsimilarly

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 11.14
In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”, “devotee’s”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.14
In this verse: “sins”, “sinful”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.14
In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I taking sincere shelter of Kṛṣṇa, or treating His mercy as permission to act carelessly?

Practice

Identify one excuse for a harmful habit and set it aside while offering a sincere prayer for shelter in Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todaySincere Devotion Burns Sinful ReactionsThis 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 11.14.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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