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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
11.27.2311.27.25-26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.27.24

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

तयात्मभूतया पिण्डे व्याप्ते सम्पूज्य तन्मय: ।

आवाह्यार्चादिषु स्थाप्य न्यस्ताङ्गं मां प्रपूजयेत् ॥ २४ ॥

tayātma-bhūtayā piṇḍe

vyāpte sampūjya tan-mayaḥ

āvāhyārcādiṣu sthāpya

nyastāṅgaṁ māṁ prapūjayet

Translation

The devotee conceives of the Supersoul, whose presence surcharges the devotee’s body, in the form corresponding to his realization. Thus the devotee worships the Lord to his full capacity and becomes fully absorbed in Him. By touching the various limbs of the Deity and chanting appropriate mantras, the devotee should invite the Supersoul to join the Deity’s form, and then the devotee should worship Me.

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.

Welcome the Lord With Full Attention

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord pervades the devotee’s body just as the glow of a lamp pervades a house. The devotee worships according to realization and full capacity.

  2. 2

    By touching the Deity’s limbs and chanting appropriate mantras, the devotee enthusiastically invites the Supersoul to enter the Deity’s form. The purport compares this to welcoming a guest.

  3. 3

    The Deity and the Supersoul are not different: both are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One form of the Lord can immediately become manifest in another.

Key points from the purport
  • The body of a devotee is pervaded by the Supreme Lord just as a house is pervaded by the glow of a lamp.
  • Just as one gestures in a friendly way to indicate that a guest should enter one’s house, one touches the body of the Deity, chants appropriate mantras, and enthusiastically invites the Supersoul to enter the form of the Deity.
  • One form of the Lord can immediately become manifest in another.

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. tayāby that form meditated upon
  2. ātma-bhūtayāconceived of according to one’s own realization
  3. piṇḍein the physical body
  4. vyāptewhich has become pervaded
  5. sampūjyaperfectly worshiping that form
  6. tat-mayaḥsurcharged by His presence
  7. āvāhyainviting
  8. arcā-ādiṣuwithin the various Deities being worshiped
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”, “worships”, “devotee’s”

  • 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

How can I bring a more welcoming and attentive spirit to worship?

Practice

Before worship today, pause and remember that the Deity and the Supersoul are the same Supreme Lord.

Live this todayWelcome the Lord With Full AttentionThis 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 11.27.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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