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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 27: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Instructions on the Process of Deity Worship
11.27.111.27.3-4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.27.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.27.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

एतद् वदन्ति मुनयो मुहुर्नि:श्रेयसं नृणाम् ।

नारदो भगवान् व्यास आचार्योऽङ्गिरस: सुत: ॥ २ ॥

etad vadanti munayo

muhur niḥśreyasaṁ nṛṇām

nārado bhagavān vyāsa

ācāryo ’ṅgirasaḥ sutaḥ

Translation

All the great sages repeatedly declare that such worship brings the greatest benefit possible in human life. This is the opinion of Nārada Muni, the great Vyāsadeva and my own spiritual master, Bṛhaspati.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Great Sages Affirm Worship’s Highest Benefit

  1. 1

    The great sages repeatedly declare that worship of the Lord brings the greatest benefit possible in human life.

  2. 2

    Nārada Muni and the great Vyāsadeva both affirm this teaching.

  3. 3

    Uddhava’s own spiritual master, Bṛhaspati, shares this opinion. Uddhava presents worship as a teaching supported by these spiritual authorities.

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:

Brahmā, Śiva, Nārada, Vyāsa and all other sages have recommended this process described by the Lord as most perfectly beneficial for all the occupational classes and spiritual orders of human society, including even the women and śūdras. There are three varieties of arcana, Deity worship, based on either the original Vedas, the secondary tantras, or a combination of these.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etatthis
  2. vadantithey say
  3. munayaḥthe great sages
  4. muhuḥrepeatedly
  5. niḥśreyasamthe highest goal of life
  6. nṛṇāmfor men
  7. nāradaḥNārada Muni
  8. bhagavān vyāsaḥŚrīla Vedavyāsa
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: “worship”

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 does the agreement of these great sages affect the value I place on worship?

Practice

Take a moment today to reflect on worship as life’s highest benefit, rather than a secondary concern.

Live this todayGreat Sages Affirm Worship’s Highest BenefitThis 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 11.27.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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