1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
11.2.4811.2.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.49

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Havirsince 11.2.45inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

देहेन्द्रियप्राणमनोधियां यो

जन्माप्ययक्षुद्भ‍यतर्षकृच्छ्रै: ।

संसारधर्मैरविमुह्यमान:

स्मृत्या हरेर्भागवतप्रधान: ॥ ४९ ॥

dehendriya-prāṇa-mano-dhiyāṁ yo

janmāpyaya-kṣud-bhaya-tarṣa-kṛcchraiḥ

saṁsāra-dharmair avimuhyamānaḥ

smṛtyā harer bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ

Translation

Within the material world, one’s material body is always subject to birth and decay. Similarly, the life air [prāṇa] is harassed by hunger and thirst, the mind is always anxious, the intelligence hankers for that which cannot be obtained, and all of the senses are ultimately exhausted by constant struggle in the material nature. A person who is not bewildered by the inevitable miseries of material existence, and who remains aloof from them simply by remembering the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is to be considered bhāgavata-pradhāna, the foremost devotee of the 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.

Remember Kṛṣṇa Amid Material Distress

  1. 1

    The body undergoes birth and decay, while hunger, thirst, anxiety and exhausting struggle accompany material life. The foremost devotee is not bewildered by these miseries, because he remembers the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The pure devotee gives up the bodily concept of life and understands himself as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His freedom from bewilderment is not merely the temporary comfort gained through pious activities.

  3. 3

    Devotional service is joyful even in the stage of regulated practice. Chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy names, eating food offered to Him and hearing His pastimes bring the happiness of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • The pure devotee of the Lord, however, does not experience material misery, because he has given up the bodily concept of life and identifies himself correctly as an eternal servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
  • One should rather identify himself correctly as an eternal individual servant of the supreme individual Personality of Godhead.
  • On the other hand, if one is undisturbed by the miseries of material life, he is on the same spiritual level as the Supreme 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 11.2.49 quotesBG 9.20

As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.20): “Those who study the Vedas and drink the soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, worship Me indirectly.

The purport of SB 11.2.49 quotesBG 9.2

As stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (9.2), susukhaṁ kartum avyayam.

The purport of SB 11.2.49 quotesBG 2.69

Therefore it is said in Bhagavad-gītā (2.69): “What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.”

The purport of SB 11.2.49 quotesBG 2.15

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.15): “O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.”

The purport of SB 11.2.49 quotesSB 6.2.14

Further evidence is given in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.2.14): “One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly (to indicate something else), jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully.

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:

Whatever one does with his body, mind, words, intelligence, consciousness, senses and natural proclivities should all be offered to Lord Nārāyaṇa. Living entities averse to the Lord’s lotus feet come under the control of the Lord’s illusory energy, māyā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dehaof the body
  2. indriyasenses
  3. prāṇalife air
  4. manaḥmind
  5. dhiyāmand intelligence
  6. yaḥwho
  7. janmaby birth
  8. apyayadiminution
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: “devotee”, “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When anxiety arises, can I remember that I am Kṛṣṇa’s eternal servant rather than identify myself with my troubled mind?

Practice

Set aside one minute today to chant Kṛṣṇa’s holy names while remembering His lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemember Kṛṣṇa Amid Material DistressThis 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 11.2.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories