1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
11.27.1811.27.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.27.19

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

शुचि: सम्भृतसम्भार: प्राग्दर्भै: कल्पितासन: ।

आसीन: प्रागुदग् वार्चेदर्चायां त्वथ सम्मुख: ॥ १९ ॥

śuciḥ sambhṛta-sambhāraḥ

prāg-darbhaiḥ kalpitāsanaḥ

āsīnaḥ prāg udag vārced

arcāyāṁ tv atha sammukhaḥ

Translation

After cleansing himself and collecting all the paraphernalia, the worshiper should arrange his own seat with blades of kuśa grass whose tips point eastward. He should then sit facing either east or north, or else, if the Deity is fixed in one place, he should sit directly facing the Deity.

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.

Prepare Carefully Before Beginning Worship

  1. 1

    The worshiper should cleanse himself and collect all the necessary items before beginning Deity worship.

  2. 2

    All worship items should be placed nearby so that the worshiper need not repeatedly get up to search for them.

  3. 3

    The seat should be arranged with kuśa grass whose tips point eastward, and the worshiper should face east or north. For a permanently installed Deity, one should sit directly facing the Deity.

Key points from the purport
  • The word sambhṛta-sambhāra means that before beginning the Deity worship one should place all necessary paraphernalia nearby.
  • In this way one will not have to get up continually to search for different items.
  • If the Deity has been permanently installed, then one should sit facing the Deity.

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:

He should arrange a seat facing either east or north, or else directly facing the Deity, and should bathe and clean the Deity. Then he should present clothing and ornaments, sprinkle water on the vessels and other paraphernalia to be used in the worship, and offer water for bathing the Deity’s feet, arghya, water for washing His mouth, fragrant oils, incense, lamps, flowers and food preparations.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śuciḥclean
  2. sambhṛtahaving collected
  3. sambhāraḥthe paraphernalia
  4. prāktheir tips facing the east
  5. darbhaiḥwith blades of kuśa grass
  6. kalpitahaving arranged
  7. āsanaḥhis own seat
  8. āsīnaḥsitting
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.27

    In this verse: “cleansing”, “cleanse”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.27

    In this verse: “worshiper”

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

What preparation would help me serve the Deity with fewer interruptions?

Practice

Gather all the items needed for your worship before you begin today.

Live this todayPrepare Carefully Before Beginning WorshipThis 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 11.27.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories