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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 28: Jñāna-yoga
11.28.3011.28.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.28.31

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.28.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

तिष्ठन्तमासीनमुत व्रजन्तं

शयानमुक्षन्तमदन्तमन्नम् ।

स्वभावमन्यत् किमपीहमान-

मात्मानमात्मस्थमतिर्न वेद ॥ ३१ ॥

tiṣṭhantam āsīnam uta vrajantaṁ

śayānam ukṣantam adantam annam

svabhāvam anyat kim apīhamānam

ātmānam ātma-stha-matir na veda

Translation

The wise man, whose consciousness is fixed in the self, does not even notice his own bodily activities. While standing, sitting, walking, lying down, urinating, eating or performing other bodily functions, he understands that the body is acting according to its own nature.

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.

Remain Aware of the True Self

  1. 1

    The wise person’s consciousness is fixed in the true self rather than in the body.

  2. 2

    Standing, sitting, walking, eating and other bodily functions proceed according to the body’s own nature.

  3. 3

    Understanding this, the wise person does not absorb his awareness in his own bodily activities.

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 28: Jñāna-yoga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Nevertheless, until one becomes perfectly fixed in bhakti-yoga, pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord, one should carefully avoid contacting material sense objects. An aspiring devotee may meet various obstacles and fall down, but in his next life he will continue his practice by dint of what he has already accomplished in devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.28
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tiṣṭhantamstanding
  2. āsīnamsitting
  3. utaor
  4. vrajantamwalking
  5. śayānamlying down
  6. ukṣantamurinating
  7. adantameating
  8. annamfood
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.28

    In this verse: “understands”, “understanding”

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 much of my sense of identity rests on the body’s everyday activities?

Practice

While walking or sitting today, briefly reflect that the body is acting according to its nature and is not the true self.

Live this todayRemain Aware of the True SelfThis 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.

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