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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
11.2.811.2.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.9

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vasudevasince 11.2.4inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Vasudeva

यथा विचित्रव्यसनाद् भवद्भ‍िर्विश्वतोभयात् ।

मुच्येम ह्यञ्जसैवाद्धा तथा न: शाधि सुव्रत ॥ ९ ॥

yathā vicitra-vyasanād

bhavadbhir viśvato-bhayāt

mucyema hy añjasaivāddhā

tathā naḥ śādhi su-vrata

Translation

My dear lord, you are always true to your vow. Please instruct me clearly, so that by your mercy I may easily free myself from material existence, which is full of many dangers and keeps us constantly bound in fear.

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.

Approach Kṛṣṇa Through His Pure Devotee

  1. 1

    Vasudeva asks for clear instruction, confident that the mercy of the Lord’s pure devotee can free him from material bondage. His example teaches submission rather than a proud attempt to bypass spiritual guidance.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee is not God, but is intimately united with the Lord through love. Kṛṣṇa remains eternally the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Vaiṣṇava spiritual master should receive the same respect offered to Him.

  3. 3

    Service to a pure devotee goes directly to Kṛṣṇa, and pleasing the Vaiṣṇava spiritual master immediately pleases Him. This is the easy, direct path toward spiritual perfection and return to Kṛṣṇa’s eternal kingdom.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore he is now approaching the pure devotee of the Lord, confident that by the mercy of the Lord’s devotee he will certainly achieve liberation from material bondage.
  • Thus one should understand that the pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa stands on the same spiritual level as the Lord Himself.
  • Although Śrī Kṛṣṇa is eternally the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one without a second, the Lord is more pleased to see His pure devotee worshiped.

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 11.2.9 quotesSB 11.17.27

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.17.27) Lord Kṛṣṇa has stated, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit.

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:

They were well versed in knowledge of the self, fixed in their goal and always striving for perfection. Nine other sons of Ṛṣabhadeva took on the duty of kṣatriyas and became masters of the nine dvīpas comprising Bhārata-varṣa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yathāso that
  2. vicitra-vyasanātwhich is full of various dangers
  3. bhavadbhiḥbecause of you
  4. viśvataḥ-bhayāt(from this material world) which is fearful everywhere
  5. mucyemaI may be liberated
  6. hiindeed
  7. añjasāeasily
  8. evaeven
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fear”, “dangers”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “mercy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to receive and follow spiritual instruction rather than approach Kṛṣṇa only on my own terms?

Practice

Choose one instruction about devotional service from this purport and make a small effort to follow it today.

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.

The purport quotesSB 11.17.27

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

Live this todayApproach Kṛṣṇa Through His Pure DevoteeThis 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 11.2.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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