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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
11.14.2311.14.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.24

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

वाग् गद्गदा द्रवते यस्य चित्तं

रुदत्यभीक्ष्णं हसति क्व‍‍चिच्च ।

विलज्ज उद्गायति नृत्यते च

मद्भ‍‍क्तियुक्तो भुवनं पुनाति ॥ २४ ॥

vāg gadgadā dravate yasya cittaṁ

rudaty abhīkṣṇaṁ hasati kvacic ca

vilajja udgāyati nṛtyate ca

mad-bhakti-yukto bhuvanaṁ punāti

Translation

A devotee whose speech is sometimes choked up, whose heart melts, who cries continually and sometimes laughs, who feels ashamed and cries out loudly and then dances — a devotee thus fixed in loving service to Me purifies the entire universe.

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.

A Heart Melted in Love Becomes Steady

  1. 1

    A devotee fixed in loving service may have choked speech, cry, laugh or dance in ecstasy. Such a devotee purifies the entire universe.

  2. 2

    A devotee may feel embarrassed by bodily functions or memories of past sinful activities. In this condition, the devotee loudly cries out Kṛṣṇa’s holy name.

  3. 3

    Because Lord Kṛṣṇa is the stable foundation of all existence, a heart melted in love for Him becomes most steady. Such devotion cannot be disturbed by suffering, opposing arguments or envious persons.

Key points from the purport
  • In this condition, a devotee loudly cries out the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and sometimes dances in ecstasy.
  • Normally, one whose heart easily melts is thought to be unsteady; but because Lord Kṛṣṇa is the stable foundation of all existence, one whose heart melts in love of Kṛṣṇa becomes most stable and cannot be disturbed by opposing arguments, bodily suffering, mental problems, supernatural disasters or the interference of envious persons.
  • Because such a devotee is fixed in loving service to the Lord, he becomes the very heart of the Personality of Godhead.

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. vākspeech
  2. gadgadāchoked up
  3. dravatemelts
  4. yasyaof whom
  5. cittamthe heart
  6. rudaticries
  7. abhīkṣṇamagain and again
  8. hasatilaughs
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: “devotee”, “devotion”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “purifies”, “sinful”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”

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 does this teaching change my understanding of spiritual steadiness?

Practice

Chant Kṛṣṇa’s holy name today with your attention on loving service to Him.

Live this todayA Heart Melted in Love Becomes SteadyThis 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 11.14.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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