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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 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System
11.17.2611.17.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.27

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.17.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

आचार्यं मां विजानीयान्नावमन्येत कर्हिचित् ।

न मर्त्यबुद्ध्यासूयेत सर्वदेवमयो गुरु: ॥ २७ ॥

ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān

navamanyeta karhicit

na martya-buddhyāsūyeta

sarva-deva-mayo guruḥ

Translation

One should know the ācārya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.

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.

Honor the Ācārya as Kṛṣṇa’s Dear Servant

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa teaches that one should know the ācārya as Himself and never disrespect or envy him as an ordinary man. The spiritual master’s care enables the disciple to rise to transcendental service.

  2. 2

    A bona fide spiritual master teaches Vedic knowledge, follows its principles and always engages in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Someone lacking this attitude of service is disqualified from being an ācārya.

  3. 3

    The spiritual master is honored as a manifestation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa because he is the Lord’s very dear and confidential servant. He is not identical with Kṛṣṇa in every respect and is never authorized to imitate His transcendental pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • The bona fide spiritual master always engages in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Such a spiritual master is known as ācāryadeva.
  • Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas therefore worship Śrīla Gurudeva (the spiritual master) in the light of his being the servitor 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.

Connected verses· 5

The purport of SB 11.17.27 quotesCC Ādi 1.46

This verse appears in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 1.46).

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.20.13

The Lord says, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāva-manyeta karhicit: one should not treat the spiritual master as an ordinary human being, for he is the substitute for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.7.15

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.17.27), the spiritual master is also called ācārya.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.7.21

Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.17.27) advises, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit/ na martya-buddhyāsūyeta: the ācārya should always be offered respectful obeisances; one should never envy the ācārya, considering him an ordinary human being.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.1.56

The spiritual master is sometimes glorified as sarva-devamayo guruḥ.

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

Further reading

Chapter 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He must regularly perform worship at the three junctures of the day and must render devotional service to his spiritual master in a spirit free from envy. The brahmacārī must offer to the guru whatever food and other things he obtains by begging.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ācāryamthe spiritual master
  2. māmMyself
  3. vijānīyātone should know
  4. na avamanyetaone should never disrespect
  5. karhicitat any time
  6. nanever
  7. martya-buddhyāwith the idea of his being an ordinary man
  8. asūyetaone should be envious
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “principles”

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 recognizing the spiritual master as Kṛṣṇa’s servant deepen both respect and discernment?

Practice

Write down the purport’s test of a bona fide spiritual master: unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.17's connections

Live this todayHonor the Ācārya as Kṛṣṇa’s Dear ServantThis 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 11.17.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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