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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 26: The Aila-gītā
11.26.3311.26.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.26.34

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.26.25inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

सन्तो दिशन्ति चक्षूंषि बहिरर्क: समुत्थित: ।

देवता बान्धवा: सन्त: सन्त आत्माहमेव च ॥ ३४ ॥

santo diśanti cakṣūṁṣi

bahir arkaḥ samutthitaḥ

devatā bāndhavāḥ santaḥ

santa ātmāham eva ca

Translation

My devotees bestow divine eyes, whereas the sun allows only external sight, and that only when it is risen in the sky. My devotees are one’s real worshipable deities and real family; they are one’s own self, and ultimately they are nondifferent from Me.

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.

Devotees Open Our Eyes of Knowledge

  1. 1

    The sun gives only external sight, and only when it is risen. Saintly devotees open our eyes of knowledge through the light of their words, destroying ignorance.

  2. 2

    Devotees are our real friends and relatives, our own self, and ultimately nondifferent from the Lord.

  3. 3

    Saintly devotees are the proper recipients of service. The gross material body merely clamors for sense gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • Foolishness is the wealth of the impious, who place great value on their treasure and firmly make up their minds to remain in the darkness of ignorance.
  • Saintly devotees of the Lord are just like the sun.
  • Thus the saintly devotees are one’s real friends and relatives.

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 26: The Aila-gītā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Real saints are always liberated and devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In their association there are constant discussions about the Supreme Lord, by serving whom the spirit soul completely eradicates his material sins and obtains pure devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. santaḥthe devotees
  2. diśantibestow
  3. cakṣūṁṣieyes
  4. bahiḥexternal
  5. arkaḥthe sun
  6. samutthitaḥwhen it is fully risen
  7. devatāḥworshipable deities
  8. bāndhavāḥrelatives
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worshipable”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 valuing devotees’ guidance, or holding firmly to ideas that keep me in ignorance?

Practice

Offer one small act of service to a devotee today rather than simply attending to a demand for sense gratification.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotees Open Our Eyes of KnowledgeThis 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 11.26.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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