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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.44

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्माद्वचोमन:प्राणान् नियच्छेन्मत्परायण: ।

मद्भ‍‍क्तियुक्तया बुद्ध्या तत: परिसमाप्यते ॥ ४४ ॥

tasmād vaco manaḥ prāṇān

niyacchen mat-parāyaṇaḥ

mad-bhakti-yuktayā buddhyā

tataḥ parisamāpyate

Translation

Being surrendered to Me, one should control the speech, mind and life air, and then through loving devotional intelligence one will completely fulfill the mission of life.

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.

Fulfill Life Through Loving Devotional Intelligence

  1. 1

    Being surrendered to the Lord, one should control speech, mind and life air. Loving devotional intelligence then brings the mission of life to completion.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that loving devotional intelligence can develop through perfectly chanting the Brahma-gāyatrī mantra received at brāhmaṇa initiation.

  3. 3

    Clear intelligence brings natural disinterest in the rewards of mental speculation and activities performed for material results. One then takes full shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • One can develop loving devotional intelligence by perfectly chanting the Brahma-gāyatrī mantra awarded at the moment of brāhmaṇa initiation.
  • By clear intelligence, one becomes naturally and spontaneously disinterested in the rewards offered by mental speculation and fruitive activities and takes full shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.

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 16: The Lord’s Opulence

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Material opulences are not substantially true, and therefore one should not become too involved in meditating upon them. The pure devotees of the Supreme Lord utilize their intelligence to properly regulate the activities of their speech, mind and vital force and thus perfect their existence in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. vacaḥwords
  3. manaḥthe mind
  4. prāṇānthe life airs
  5. niyacchetone should control
  6. mat-parāyaṇaḥwho is devoted to Me
  7. matunto Me
  8. bhaktiwith devotion
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “surrendered”, “shelter”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “devotional”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “material”

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

Am I seeking rewards from my efforts, or learning to take full shelter of the Lord?

Practice

Before one devotional activity today, pause and consciously offer it to the Lord rather than seeking a material reward.

Live this todayFulfill Life Through Loving Devotional IntelligenceThis 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 11.16.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.