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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
11.27.30-3111.27.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.27.32

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

वस्त्र‍ोपवीताभरणपत्रस्रग्गन्धलेपनै: ।

अलङ्कुर्वीत सप्रेम मद्भ‍क्तो मां यथोचितम् ॥ ३२ ॥

vastropavītābharaṇa-

patra-srag-gandha-lepanaiḥ

alaṅkurvīta sa-prema

mad-bhakto māṁ yathocitam

Translation

My devotee should then lovingly decorate Me with clothing, a brāhmaṇa thread, various ornaments, marks of tilaka and garlands, and he should anoint My body with fragrant oils, all in the prescribed manner.

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.

Decorate and Remember the Lord With Love

  1. 1

    The devotee should lovingly decorate the Lord with clothing, a brāhmaṇa thread, ornaments, tilaka and garlands, and anoint Him with fragrant oils. These services should follow the prescribed manner.

  2. 2

    The purport instructs the devotee to absorb the mind completely in the Deity, give up other shelter and regard Him as an intimate well-wisher.

  3. 3

    The devotee should mentally worship and remember the Deity while walking, standing, sleeping and eating. Remembering His form is not limited to the time of outward worship.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī quotes Lord Śrī Viṣṇu’s instructions to Ambarīṣa Mahārāja in the Viṣṇu-dharma Upapurāṇa as follows: “Absorbing your mind completely in the Deity, you should give up all other shelter and consider the Deity your intimate well-wisher.
  • In this way you should constantly remember My Deity form.”
  • In the Gautamīya-tantra one is enjoined to give the Deity of the Lord a brāhmaṇa thread, if possible one made of gold.

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:

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. After this, one should worship the Lord’s personal servants and bodyguards, His consort energies, and the spiritual masters by chanting their respective mūla-mantras.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vastrawith clothing
  2. upavītaa brāhmaṇa thread
  3. ābharaṇaornaments
  4. patradecorations drawn on various parts of the body with tilaka
  5. srakgarlands
  6. gandha-lepanaiḥand smearing of fragrant oils
  7. alaṅkurvītahe should decorate
  8. sa-premawith love
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”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.27

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 would change if I remembered the Deity as my intimate well-wisher?

Practice

During one short walk today, consciously remember the Lord’s Deity form as your intimate well-wisher.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.27's connections

Live this todayDecorate and Remember the Lord With LoveThis 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 11.27.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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