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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 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment
11.20.3511.20.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.20.36

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.20.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

न मय्येकान्तभक्तानां गुणदोषोद्भ‍वा गुणा: ।

साधूनां समचित्तानां बुद्धे: परमुपेयुषाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

na mayy ekānta-bhaktānāṁ

guṇa-doṣodbhavā guṇāḥ

sādhūnāṁ sama-cittānāṁ

buddheḥ param upeyuṣām

Translation

Material piety and sin, which arise from the good and evil of this world, cannot exist within My unalloyed devotees, who, being free from material hankering, maintain steady spiritual consciousness in all circumstances. Indeed, such devotees have achieved Me, the Supreme Lord, who am beyond anything that can be conceived by material intelligence.

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.

Pure Devotion Transcends Material Piety and Sin

  1. 1

    Pure devotees are free from material hankering and maintain steady spiritual consciousness. Love of Kṛṣṇa and complete surrender raise them beyond ordinary material piety and sin.

  2. 2

    Occasional neglect of ritual details by a pure devotee absorbed in selfless service is not a transgression. This does not permit ordinary persons to claim divine approval for immoral or whimsical behavior.

  3. 3

    The Lord quickly excuses a sincere devotee’s accidental fall, and others should also be forgiving. Such a devotee immediately returns to saintly service and begs forgiveness; remaining in a fallen condition is different.

Key points from the purport
  • The words buddheḥ param indicate that the material modes of nature cannot be found within a pure devotee absorbed in the transcendental qualities of the Lord.
  • One must actually be a pure devotee of the Lord, empowered by the Lord Himself and completely surrendered to the will of the Lord, before one may be accepted as transcendental to ordinary piety and sin.
  • A momentary falldown by a sincere devotee of the Lord cannot change the Lord’s feelings toward such a person.

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 11.20.36 quotesBG 9.30

The Lord instructs in Bhagavad-gītā (9.30): A momentary falldown by a sincere devotee of the Lord cannot change the Lord’s feelings toward such a person.

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

Uncertainty → Clarity. The coming separation makes the instruction personally urgent.

Chapters 10–20 of Canto 11: Kṛṣṇa's teachings on self, yoga and wisdom. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Only in the heart of a person who is devoid of material desire and disinterested in material things can devotional service to the Lord arise. The piety and impiety that result from ritualistic injunctions and prohibitions cannot be applied to the unalloyed pure devotees of the Supreme Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. mayiin Me
  3. eka-antaunalloyed
  4. bhaktānāmof the devotees
  5. guṇarecommended as good
  6. doṣaforbidden as unfavorable
  7. udbhavāḥarising from such things
  8. guṇāḥpiety and sin
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 11.20

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I using spiritual teachings to deepen selfless service, or to excuse behavior I should correct?

Practice

Examine one excuse you make for a wrong action, set it aside, and ask the Lord’s forgiveness.

Live this todayPure Devotion Transcends Material Piety and SinThis 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.

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