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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
11.27.1911.27.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.27.20

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

कृतन्यास: कृतन्यासां मदर्चां पाणिना मृजेत् ।

कलशं प्रोक्षणीयं च यथावदुपसाधयेत् ॥ २० ॥

kṛta-nyāsaḥ kṛta-nyāsāṁ

mad-arcāṁ pāṇināmṛjet

kalaśaṁ prokṣaṇīyaṁ ca

yathāvad upasādhayet

Translation

The devotee should sanctify the various parts of his body by touching them and chanting mantras. He should do the same for My Deity form, and then with his hands he should clean the Deity of old flowers and the remnants of previous offerings. He should properly prepare the sacred pot and the vessel containing water for sprinkling.

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.

Begin Worship With Respect and Cleanliness

  1. 1

    Before beginning this process of worship, one should offer obeisances to the spiritual master, the Deity and other worshipable personalities.

  2. 2

    The devotee should sanctify the parts of his body by touching them and chanting mantras. The same process should be applied to the Deity form.

  3. 3

    The worshiper should remove old flowers and remnants of previous offerings by hand. The sacred pot and the vessel of sprinkling water should then be properly prepared.

Key points from the purport
  • Before beginning the process of worship mentioned here, one should offer obeisances to one’s spiritual master, the Deity and other worshipable personalities.

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:

The details of the worshiping process are as follows: The devotee should bathe both physically and by chanting mantras, and then he should perform the utterance of Gāyatrī at the prescribed juncture of the day. He should arrange a seat facing either east or north, or else directly facing the Deity, and should bathe and clean the 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. kṛta-nyāsaḥhaving sanctified his own body (by touching various parts and chanting appropriate mantras while meditating on the corresponding forms of the Supreme Lord)
  2. kṛta-nyāsām(the Deity) upon which the same process has been applied
  3. mat-arcāmMy Deity manifestation
  4. pāṇināwith his hand
  5. āmṛjetshould clean (by removing remnants of old offerings)
  6. kalaśamthe ritual pot filled with auspicious substances
  7. prokṣaṇīyamthe vessel containing water for sprinkling
  8. caand
  9. yathā-vatappropriately
  10. upasādhayethe should prepare
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”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.27

    In this verse: “chanting”

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 give the beginning of worship the respect and care it deserves?

Practice

Before worship today, offer obeisances to your spiritual master, the Deity and other worshipable personalities.

Live this todayBegin Worship With Respect and CleanlinessThis 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 11.27.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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