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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 19: The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge
11.19.1811.19.20-24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.19.19

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.19.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

भक्तियोग: पुरैवोक्त: प्रीयमाणाय तेऽनघ ।

पुनश्च कथयिष्यामि मद्भ‍क्ते: कारणं परं ॥ १९ ॥

bhakti-yogaḥ puraivoktaḥ

prīyamāṇāya te ’nagha

punaś ca kathayiṣyāmi

mad-bhakteḥ kāraṇaṁ paraṁ

Translation

O sinless Uddhava, because you love Me, I previously explained to you the process of devotional service. Now I will again explain the supreme process for achieving loving service unto Me.

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.

Pure Love of Kṛṣṇa Is the Goal

  1. 1

    Because Uddhava loves Lord Kṛṣṇa, he wants to hear more about devotional service. Earlier explanations have not satisfied his desire to hear these topics.

  2. 2

    Pure love of Kṛṣṇa is the supreme stage of conscious existence. One who loves Him desires to keep hearing about devotional service, beyond discussions mixed with Vedic duties and analytic philosophy.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa responds to Uddhava’s longing by returning specifically to pure devotional service. He promises to explain again the supreme process for attaining loving service unto Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Lord Kṛṣṇa previously described bhakti-yoga to Śrī Uddhava, Uddhava is not yet satisfied, because he loves Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • The supreme stage of conscious existence is pure love of Kṛṣṇa, and one who is addicted to Lord Kṛṣṇa desires to constantly drink the nectar of such topics.
  • Now Uddhava is hankering to hear specifically about pure devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and the Lord thus turns to that topic.

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 19: The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After this, Lord Kṛṣṇa, requested by Śrī Uddhava to describe in full detail pure transcendental knowledge and devotional service, related the same instructions that the greatest of Vaiṣṇavas, Bhīṣmadeva, gave on these topics to Śrī Yudhiṣṭhira on the occasion of the battle at Kurukṣetra. Following this, after being asked about yama and the other practices of yoga, the Lord enumerated the twelve kinds of yama beginning with nonviolence, and the twelve kinds of niyama, beginning with bodily cleanliness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhakti-yogaḥdevotional service to the Lord
  2. purāpreviously
  3. evaindeed
  4. uktaḥexplained
  5. prīyamāṇāyawho has developed love
  6. teunto you
  7. anaghaO sinless Uddhava
  8. punaḥagain
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.19

    In this verse: “love”, “loves”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.19

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.19

    In this verse: “philosophy”

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

Is my study awakening a desire to hear more about loving service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to reread this verse and purport, focusing on loving service to Kṛṣṇa as the goal.

Live this todayPure Love of Kṛṣṇa Is the GoalThis 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.

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