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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
11.2.5411.3.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.55

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

विसृजति हृदयं न यस्य साक्षा-

द्धरिरवशाभिहितोऽप्यघौघनाश: ।

प्रणयरसनया धृताङ्‍‍घ्रिपद्म:

स भवति भागवतप्रधान उक्त: ॥ ५५ ॥

visṛjati hṛdayaṁ na yasya sākṣād

dharir avaśābhihito ’py aghaugha-nāśaḥ

praṇaya-rasanayā dhṛtāṅghri-padmaḥ

sa bhavati bhāgavata-pradhāna uktaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so kind to the conditioned souls that if they call upon Him by speaking His holy name, even unintentionally or unwillingly, the Lord is inclined to destroy innumerable sinful reactions in their hearts. Therefore, when a devotee who has taken shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa with genuine love, the Supreme Personality of Godhead can never give up the heart of such a devotee. One who has thus captured the Supreme Lord within his heart is to be known as bhāgavata-pradhāna, the most exalted 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.

Loving Devotion Holds Kṛṣṇa Within the Heart

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s holy name is so merciful that even unintentional or unwilling chanting can destroy innumerable sinful reactions. Those who have not yet reached loving devotional service can also become gradually purified by chanting.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee attracts Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by love so that He never leaves the devotee’s heart. Through surrender and realization of Kṛṣṇa’s all-attractive nature, the devotee’s clean heart becomes the Lord’s residence.

  3. 3

    Devotees who give up sinful behavior, chant the holy name and remain in the Lord’s service gradually reach prema-niṣṭhā, steady love of Godhead. Even if their chanting is not yet perfect, loving devotional service leads them toward this goal.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the word sākṣāt in this verse indicates that a pure devotee has realized knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, having given his heart to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, who is all-attractive in six opulences, including beauty.
  • Similarly, Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme gentleman, and therefore He will not live in a polluted heart, nor will He appear within the polluted mind of a conditioned soul.
  • Therefore, even if he chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa with improper attention due to being absorbed in the Lord’s service, the mercy of the Lord purifies his heart of all sinful reactions.

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· 2

The purport of SB 11.2.55 quotesSB 2.1.11

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.11): “O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental…

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 25.128

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.55).

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:

The first-class devotees are described in eight verses, which conclude by stating that the first-class devotee keeps the Supreme Lord perpetually fastened to his own heart with ropes of affection. Lord Hari never leaves the heart of such a devotee.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. visṛjatiHe leaves
  2. hṛdayamthe heart
  3. nanever
  4. yasyaof whom
  5. sākṣātHimself
  6. hariḥLord Hari
  7. avaśaaccidentally
  8. abhihitaḥcalled
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chants”, “holy name”, “chanting”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “sinful”, “purified”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make my chanting an expression of my desire to love and serve Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one minute today to chant Kṛṣṇa’s holy name attentively, with a sincere desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.2's connections

Live this todayLoving Devotion Holds Kṛṣṇa Within the HeartThis 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 11.2.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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