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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
11.27.1411.27.16-17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.27.15

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

द्रव्यै: प्रसिद्धैर्मद्याग: प्रतिमादिष्वमायिन: ।

भक्तस्य च यथालब्धैर्हृदि भावेन चैव हि ॥ १५ ॥

dravyaiḥ prasiddhair mad-yāgaḥ

pratimādiṣv amāyinaḥ

bhaktasya ca yathā-labdhair

hṛdi bhāvena caiva hi

Translation

One should worship Me in My Deity forms by offering the most excellent paraphernalia. But a devotee completely freed from material desire may worship Me with whatever he is able to obtain, and may even worship Me within his heart with mental paraphernalia.

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.

Offer Everything for the Lord’s Pleasure

  1. 1

    One should offer excellent items in Deity worship. Such offerings help a beginner remember that the Deity is the supreme enjoyer and the worshiper is meant for His pleasure.

  2. 2

    An advanced devotee never forgets that the Supreme Lord is the actual enjoyer and controller of everything. Such a devotee offers pure love along with whatever items are easily obtained.

  3. 3

    A devotee completely free from material desire may even worship within the heart with mental offerings. Unwavering devotion can completely satisfy Kṛṣṇa with the simplest offering.

Key points from the purport
  • A devotee still troubled by material desire tends to see the world as an object of sense gratification.
  • The pure devotee offers his unalloyed love to the Personality of Godhead along with whatever paraphernalia is easily obtained.
  • A Kṛṣṇa conscious devotee does not waver in his devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and even with the simplest offering he completely satisfies the Personality of Godhead.

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:

If a person has no engagement in Deity service he will simply remain attracted to material sense gratification, and he will have no hope of giving up bad association. The Personality of Godhead has given instruction, among the regulations of the Sātvata scriptures, on the process of worshiping Him as the bona fide Deity.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dravyaiḥwith items of paraphernalia
  2. prasiddhaiḥexcellent
  3. mat-yāgaḥMy worship
  4. pratimā-ādiṣuin the different Deity forms
  5. amāyinaḥwho has no material desire
  6. bhaktasyaof a devotee
  7. caand
  8. yathā-labdhaiḥby whatever paraphernalia he can easily obtain
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: “devotee”, “worship”, “devotion”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.27

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.27

    In this verse: “free from”

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

Do I think of my offerings as being for Kṛṣṇa’s enjoyment?

Practice

Choose one item for today’s worship with particular care for the Lord’s pleasure.

Live this todayOffer Everything for the Lord’s PleasureThis 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 11.27.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.