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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
11.21.4111.21.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.21.42

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

किं विधत्ते किमाचष्टे किमनूद्य विकल्पयेत् ।

इत्यस्या हृदयं लोके नान्यो मद् वेद कश्चन ॥ ४२ ॥

kiṁ vidhatte kim ācaṣṭe

kim anūdya vikalpayet

ity asyā hṛdayaṁ loke

nānyo mad veda kaścana

Translation

In the entire world no one but Me actually understands the confidential purpose of Vedic knowledge. Thus people do not know what the Vedas are actually prescribing in the ritualistic injunctions of karma-kāṇḍa, or what object is actually being indicated in the formulas of worship found in the upāsanā-kāṇḍa, or that which is elaborately discussed through various hypotheses in the jñāna-kāṇḍa section of the Vedas.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Knows the Heart of the Vedas

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the source, maintainer and ultimate goal of Vedic knowledge. He alone fully knows its confidential purpose.

  2. 2

    The actual purpose of religion is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or pure love of Godhead. All Vedic formulas are preliminary stages leading to full surrender in devotional service to the Lord.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s pure devotees represent Him and never speak anything unauthorized by Him. Because they repeat His own words, they too are understood as true knowers of the Vedas.

Key points from the purport
  • So-called philosophers, either Vedic scholars or ordinary men, may give their sectarian opinion, but it is the Lord Himself who knows the confidential purpose of the Vedas.
  • Although ordinary people may quarrel over the purpose of religion, the actual purpose is one, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or pure love of Godhead.
  • All Vedic formulas are understood to be preliminary stages leading to the perfect stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, in which one fully surrenders to the devotional service of the Lord.

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 11.21.42 quotesBG 10.41

As He states in the Tenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (10.41): “Know that all beautiful, glorious and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 20.147-148

These two verses are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.21.42-43).

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

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:

The Vedas focus exclusively upon the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead. Because this material world is simply the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord, it is by refuting material existence that one gains disassociation from matter.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kimwhat
  2. vidhatteenjoins (in the ritualistic karma-kāṇḍa)
  3. kimwhat
  4. ācaṣṭeindicates (as the object of worship in the devatā-kāṇḍa)
  5. kimwhat
  6. anūdyadescribing in different aspects
  7. vikalpayetraises the possibility of alternatives (in the jñāna-kāṇḍa)
  8. itithus
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understands”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “surrender”

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 keep loving service to Kṛṣṇa at the center of my study?

Practice

Reread the translation today, then pause to remember that its speaker, Kṛṣṇa, is both the source and the goal of Vedic knowledge.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Knows the Heart of the VedasThis 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 11.21.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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