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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 27: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Instructions on the Process of Deity Worship
11.27.1211.27.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.27.13

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.27.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

चलाचलेति द्विविधा प्रतिष्ठा जीवमन्दिरम् ।

उद्वासावाहने न स्त: स्थिरायामुद्धवार्चने ॥ १३ ॥

calācaleti dvi-vidhā

pratiṣṭhā jīva-mandiram

udvāsāvāhane na staḥ

sthirāyām uddhavārcane

Translation

The Deity form of the Lord, who is the shelter of all living entities, can be established in two ways: temporarily or permanently. But a permanent Deity, having been called, can never be sent away, My dear Uddhava.

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 Deity Is Our Eternal Lord

  1. 1

    The Deity form of the Lord is the shelter of all living entities and may be established temporarily or permanently. A permanently established Deity can never be sent away.

  2. 2

    Devotees understand themselves to be the Lord’s eternal servitors. Recognizing the Deity as the Lord Himself, they arrange for perpetual worship.

  3. 3

    Materialistic worship treats the Lord as an order supplier for temporary enjoyment. Loving devotees in Kṛṣṇa consciousness worship the Personality of Godhead eternally, rather than exploiting Him for personal ends.

Key points from the purport
  • The devotees of the Lord understand themselves to be the Lord’s eternal servitors; recognizing the Deity to be the Lord Himself, they permanently install the Deity and engage in perpetual worship.
  • The impersonalists, however, regard the eternal form of the Lord as a temporary manifestation of illusion.
  • In fact, they regard the Deity form as a mere stepping-stone in their ambitious program to become God.

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 27: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Instructions on the Process of Deity Worship

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Worshiping the Deity form of the Supreme Lord automatically brings purity and satisfaction to the mind. Thus it is the source of all desirable gains.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. calāmovable
  2. acalāimmovable
  3. itithus
  4. dvi-vidhāof two varieties
  5. pratiṣṭhāthe installation
  6. jīva-mandiramof the Deity, who is the shelter of all living entities
  7. udvāsasending away
  8. āvāhaneand calling forth
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 11.27

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worship”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.27

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.27

    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

Am I approaching the Lord to serve Him or mainly to receive something from Him?

Practice

Before worship today, pause and remember that you are the Lord’s servant, not His master.

Live this todayThe Deity Is Our Eternal LordThis 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 11.27.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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