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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
11.27.4711.27.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.27.48

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

अर्चादिषु यदा यत्र श्रद्धा मां तत्र चार्चयेत् ।

सर्वभूतेष्वात्मनि च सर्वात्माहमवस्थित: ॥ ४८ ॥

arcādiṣu yadā yatra

śraddhā māṁ tatra cārcayet

sarva-bhūteṣv ātmani ca

sarvātmāham avasthitaḥ

Translation

Whenever one develops faith in Me — in My form as the Deity or in other bona fide manifestations — one should worship Me in that form. I certainly exist both within all created beings and also separately in My original form, since I am the Supreme Soul of all.

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.

Faithful Deity Worship Deepens Devotion

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exists within all beings and separately in His original form. One should worship Him in the Deity or another bona fide manifestation in which one develops faith.

  2. 2

    Deity worship is essential for spiritual progress. Through regulated, faithful worship, one gradually understands that the Deity is completely nondifferent from the Supreme Lord Himself.

  3. 3

    As devotion develops, one desires friendship with other devotees. Becoming firmly established in the community of Vaiṣṇavas helps one give up material life and progress toward perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped according to the faith of a particular worshiper.
  • But through the process of installing the Deity by chanting of authorized mantras, one invites the Supreme Personality of Godhead to enter the Deity form.
  • By regulated, faithful worship one gradually understands that the Deity is completely nondifferent from the Supreme Lord Himself.

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 Personality of Godhead has given instruction, among the regulations of the Sātvata scriptures, on the process of worshiping Him as the bona fide Deity. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arcā-ādiṣuin the Deity form and other manifestations of the Supreme Lord
  2. yadāwhenever
  3. yatrain whichever form
  4. śraddhāfaith develops
  5. māmMe
  6. tatrathere
  7. caand
  8. arcayethe should worship
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotion”, “devotees”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.27

    In this verse: “understands”

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 approach Deity worship with greater faith rather than seeing the Deity as merely material?

Practice

Today, make one respectful prayer to the Deity, remembering that the Deity is nondifferent from the Supreme Lord.

Live this todayFaithful Deity Worship Deepens DevotionThis 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 11.27.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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