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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 2: Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras
11.2.3211.2.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.33

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Kavisince 11.2.33inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

श्रीकविरुवाच

मन्येऽकुतश्चिद्भयमच्युतस्य

पादाम्बुजोपासनमत्र नित्यम् ।

उद्विग्नबुद्धेरसदात्मभावाद्

विश्वात्मना यत्र निवर्तते भी: ॥ ३३ ॥

śrī-kavir uvāca

manye ’kutaścid-bhayam acyutasya

pādāmbujopāsanam atra nityam

udvigna-buddher asad-ātma-bhāvād

viśvātmanā yatra nivartate bhīḥ

Translation

Śrī Kavi said: I consider that one whose intelligence is constantly disturbed by his falsely identifying himself with the temporary material world can achieve real freedom from fear only by worshiping the lotus feet of the infallible Supreme Lord. In such devotional service, all fear ceases entirely.

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.

Freedom From Fear Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Identifying the eternal self with the temporary body and its possessions keeps the intelligence disturbed by fear. Attachment to temporary sense gratification brings continuing distress.

  2. 2

    Pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead frees one from fear and anxiety. It restores the living entity’s natural propensity to serve God.

  3. 3

    Even a beginner practicing devotional service through rules and regulations can experience fearlessness by the Lord’s mercy. As devotion matures, the Lord reveals Himself, and all fear is vanquished forever.

Key points from the purport
  • In the opinion of Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī the word asad-ātma-bhāvāt in this verse indicates that the living entity is constantly disturbed by fear because he identifies his eternal self with the temporary material body and its paraphernalia.
  • Because of one’s attachment to one’s temporary body and so-called home, family, friends and so on, one’s intelligence is always disturbed by fear, and one is unable to appreciate or practice pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
  • The result of such false attachment is continuing distress, which can be eradicated only by devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

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· 1

The purport of SB 11.2.33 quotesSB 3.9.6

As long as they do not take shelter of Your safe lotus feet, they are full of such anxieties.”

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

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This bhāgavata-dharma, manifested as service to the lotus feet of the infallible Supreme Lord, eradicates all fear for the living being. By abiding in bhāgavata-dharma one will never stumble or fall, even while running with both eyes closed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-kaviḥ uvācaŚrī Kavi said
  2. manyeI consider
  3. akutaścit-bhayamfearlessness
  4. acyutasyaof the infallible Lord
  5. pāda-ambujaof the lotus feet
  6. upāsanamthe worship
  7. atrain this world
  8. nityamconstantly
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “worshiping”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “material”, “attachment”, “sense gratification”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “fear”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which temporary attachment most often disturbs my intelligence with fear?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to pray for shelter at the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet, bringing one specific fear before Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFreedom From Fear Through Devotional ServiceThis 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 11.2.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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