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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 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path
11.21.3511.21.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.21.36

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.21.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

शब्दब्रह्म सुदुर्बोधं प्राणेन्द्रियमनोमयम् ।

अनन्तपारं गम्भीरं दुर्विगाह्यं समुद्रवत् ॥ ३६ ॥

śabda-brahma su-durbodhaṁ

prāṇendriya-mano-mayam

ananta-pāraṁ gambhīraṁ

durvigāhyaṁ samudra-vat

Translation

The transcendental sound of the Vedas is very difficult to comprehend and manifests on different levels within the prāṇa, senses and mind. This Vedic sound is unlimited, very deep and unfathomable, just like the ocean.

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.

The Holy Name Reveals Vedic Sound

  1. 1

    Vedic sound has four phases: three are internal, and the fourth is outwardly expressed as speech. Even this outward phase is difficult for ordinary people to understand.

  2. 2

    Vedic sound is unlimited, deep and unfathomable like the ocean. Through Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can understand its conclusion: Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, its original source.

  3. 3

    The essence of all Vedic sound is the Supreme Lord’s holy name, which is nondifferent from Him. By His mercy and offenseless chanting, one can enter the mysteries of Vedic sound.

Key points from the purport
  • Even this fourth phase of Vedic sound, called vaikharī, is very difficult to understand for ordinary human beings.
  • Actually, Vedic sound vibration is so subtle, unfathomable and deep that only the Lord Himself and His empowered followers such as Vyāsa and Nārada can understand its actual form and meaning.
  • Ultimately, the essence of all Vedic sound is the holy name of the Supreme Lord, which is not different from the Lord Himself.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Striving → Complete devotional trust. The Lord redirects Uddhava toward enduring loving service.

Chapters 21–29 of Canto 11: Spiritual practice culminating in bhakti-yoga. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

But persons of inferior intelligence take the flowery benedictory verses of the scriptures to be the actual purport of the Vedas; this opinion, however, is never held by those in factual knowledge of the truth of the Vedas. Persons whose minds are agitated by the flowery words of the Vedas have no attraction for hearing topics about Lord Hari.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śabda-brahmathe transcendental sound of the Vedas
  2. su-durbodhamextremely difficult to comprehend
  3. prāṇaof the vital air
  4. indriyasenses
  5. manaḥand mind
  6. mayammanifesting on the different levels
  7. ananta-pāramwithout limit
  8. gambhīramdeep
  9. durvigāhyamunfathomable
  10. samudra-vatlike the ocean
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.21

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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “offenseless”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “understand”

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

How can I approach the holy name with greater respect for its transcendental value?

Practice

With care and respect, chant: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

Live this todayThe Holy Name Reveals Vedic SoundThis 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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