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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.52

Who is speaking and story frame

न यस्य स्व: पर इति वित्तेष्वात्मनि वा भिदा ।

सर्वभूतसम: शान्त: स वै भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ५२ ॥

na yasya svaḥ para iti

vitteṣv ātmani vā bhidā

sarva-bhūta-samaḥ śāntaḥ

sa vai bhāgavatottamaḥ

Translation

When a devotee gives up the selfish conception by which one thinks “This is my property, and that is his,” and when he is no longer concerned with the pleasures of his own material body or indifferent to the discomforts of others, he becomes fully peaceful and satisfied. He considers himself simply one among all the living beings who are equally part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a satisfied Vaiṣṇava is considered to be at the highest standard of devotional service.

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.

Give Up Ownership, Serve with Equal Care

  1. 1

    A satisfied Vaiṣṇava gives up selfish ideas of “mine” and “someone else’s” and is not indifferent to others’ suffering. He sees himself as one among the living beings who are equally parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Seeing living beings equally does not mean considering them equal to the Supreme Lord. Living beings remain eternally individual servants, while Kṛṣṇa is the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Giving up personal ownership does not mean rejecting things useful in Kṛṣṇa’s service. A devotee uses favorable things for the Lord and cares about bringing others to devotional service, where their suffering can end.

Key points from the purport
  • The vision described by the phrase sarva-bhūta-samaḥ, “seeing all living entities equally,” does not include one’s vision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī and Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, this verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam does not forbid using a particular object in the Lord’s service, since a devotee is free to use anything favorable for serving Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Just as one becomes very much concerned about any pain in one’s own body, one should be concerned with bringing the conditioned souls to the platform of devotional service so that all of their suffering will be banished forever.

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 11.2.52 quotesBG 1.21

In Bhagavad-gītā (1.21) Arjuna said to Kṛṣṇa, rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’cyuta: “My dear Acyuta, please place my chariot between the armies.”

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:

Just as by eating one gradually appeases his hunger and with every bite feels more and more satisfied and nourished, a surrendered devotee achieves detachment from all objects other than Kṛṣṇa, gains direct personal experience of the Lord and relishes pure love for the Lord, all simultaneously.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nathere is not
  2. yasyaof whom
  3. svaḥ paraḥ iti“mine” and “someone else’s”
  4. vitteṣuabout his property
  5. ātmaniabout his body
  6. vāor
  7. bhidāby thinking in terms of duality
  8. sarva-bhūtato all living beings
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”, “devotee”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “indifferent”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could I use something I call “mine” for Kṛṣṇa’s service rather than only for my own pleasure?

Practice

Choose one possession today and use it in a small act of devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGive Up Ownership, Serve with Equal CareThis 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 11.2.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.