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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 2: Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras
11.2.5211.2.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.53

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

त्रिभुवनविभवहेतवेऽप्यकुण्ठ-

स्मृतिरजितात्मसुरादिभिर्विमृग्यात् ।

न चलति भगवत्पदारविन्दा-

ल्ल‍वनिमिषार्धमपि य: स वैष्णवाग्य्र: ॥ ५३ ॥

tri-bhuvana-vibhava-hetave ’py akuṇṭha-

smṛtir ajitātma-surādibhir vimṛgyāt

na calati bhagavat-padāravindāl

lava-nimiṣārdham api yaḥ sa vaiṣṇavāgryaḥ

Translation

The lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are sought even by the greatest of demigods, such as Brahmā and Śiva, who have all accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead as their life and soul. A pure devotee of the Lord can never forget those lotus feet in any circumstance. He will not give up his shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord for a single moment — indeed, not for half a moment — even in exchange for the benediction of ruling and enjoying the opulence of the entire universe. Such a devotee of the Lord is to be considered the best of the Vaiṣṇavas.

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.

Never Exchange the Lord’s Shelter for Opulence

  1. 1

    A pure devotee never forgets the Lord’s lotus feet, even for half a moment in exchange for the opulence of the entire universe. Those lotus feet are sought even by Brahmā and Śiva.

  2. 2

    Since everything that exists is an expansion of the Supreme Lord, a pure devotee finds nothing separate from Him. This keeps the devotee’s remembrance of the Lord undisturbed.

  3. 3

    Even if given all universal opulence, a pure devotee would offer it at the Lord’s lotus feet and remain His humble servant. No material facility can distract such a devotee from the Lord’s service.

Key points from the purport
  • It is simply impossible for a pure devotee to forget the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, since everything that exists is in fact an expansion of the Supreme Lord.
  • Nor can a pure devotee contemplate ruling or enjoying universal opulence; even if given all the opulence of the universe, he would immediately offer it at the lotus feet of the Lord and return to his position of a humble servant of the Lord.
  • The word vimṛgyāt indicates that the demigods are not actually able to see the lotus feet of the Lord, but are endeavoring to see them.

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 11.2.53 quotesSB 11.14.14

A similar verse is found elsewhere in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.14): “The devotee who has offered his soul to Me does not want anything if it is separate from Me — not the position of the supreme demigod of the universe, Brahmā, nor that of Lord Indra, nor kingship over the entire earth or over the lower planetary systems, nor the mystic…

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:

Thus the best thing for them is to surrender their very life energy to a qualified guru and execute worship of the Supreme Lord, the absolute controller of māyā, with pure devotion. 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. tri-bhuvanaof the three worlds comprising the material universe
  2. vibhava-hetavefor the sake of the opulences
  3. apieven
  4. akuṇṭha-smṛtiḥwhose remembrance is undisturbed
  5. ajita-ātmaof whom the unconquerable Lord is the very soul
  6. sura-ādibhiḥby the demigods and others
  7. vimṛgyātwhich are sought
  8. na calatihe does not go away
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”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What comfort or opportunity most distracts me from remembering and serving the Lord?

Practice

When enjoying a comfort today, pause to remember Kṛṣṇa and how that facility could support His service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNever Exchange the Lord’s Shelter for OpulenceThis 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 11.2.53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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