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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 18: Description of Varṇāśrama-dharma
11.18.3111.18.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.18.32

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.18.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

एक एव परो ह्यात्मा भूतेष्वात्मन्यवस्थित: ।

यथेन्दुरुदपात्रेषु भूतान्येकात्मकानि च ॥ ३२ ॥

eka eva paro hy ātmā

bhūteṣv ātmany avasthitaḥ

yathendur uda-pātreṣu

bhūtāny ekātmakāni ca

Translation

The one Supreme Lord is situated within all material bodies and within everyone’s soul. Just as the moon is reflected in innumerable reservoirs of water, the Supreme Lord, although one, is present within everyone. Thus every material body is ultimately composed of the energy of the one Supreme Lord.

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.

Recognize the Supreme Lord Within Everyone

  1. 1

    The one Supreme Lord is present within everyone, just as one moon is reflected in many reservoirs of water.

  2. 2

    All material bodies are composed of material nature, which is the Supreme Lord’s potency. Therefore, hostility toward any living entity cannot be justified.

  3. 3

    Every living being is ultimately a son of God, and God is present within everyone’s body. Saintly persons therefore deal carefully even with the most insignificant person or creature.

Key points from the purport
  • All material bodies are composed of the same material nature, which is ultimately the potency of the one Supreme Lord.
  • Every living being is ultimately the son of God, and God is present within everyone’s body.
  • Therefore, saintly persons should be very careful even when dealing with the most insignificant person or creature.

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 18: Description of Varṇāśrama-dharma

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because his perception of dualities has become completely eradicated by transcendental knowledge, which is focused on the Supreme Lord, he obtains upon the demise of his material body the liberation known as sārṣṭi, in which one becomes equal in opulence with the Lord. The person who desires his own best interest should take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ekaḥone
  2. evaindeed
  3. paraḥSupreme
  4. hicertainly
  5. ātmāthe Personality of Godhead
  6. bhūteṣuwithin all bodies
  7. ātmaniwithin the living entity
  8. avasthitaḥsituated
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.18

    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

How would remembering the Lord’s presence change my treatment of someone I usually overlook?

Practice

Treat one easily overlooked person or small creature with deliberate care today, remembering the Lord’s presence within.

Live this todayRecognize the Supreme Lord Within EveryoneThis 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 11.18.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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