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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 29: Bhakti-yoga
11.29.911.29.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.10

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.29.8inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

देशान् पुण्यानाश्रयेत मद्भ‍क्तै: साधुभि: श्रितान् ।

देवासुरमनुष्येषु मद्भ‍क्ताचरितानि च ॥ १० ॥

deśān puṇyān āśrayeta

mad-bhaktaiḥ sādhubhiḥ śritān

devāsura-manuṣyeṣu

mad-bhaktācaritāni ca

Translation

One should take shelter of holy places where My saintly devotees reside, and one should be guided by the exemplary activities of My devotees, who appear among the demigods, demons and human beings.

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.

Follow Devotees and Seek Holy Shelter

  1. 1

    One should take shelter of holy places where the Lord’s saintly devotees reside.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s devotees appear among demigods, demons and human beings. Examples include Nārada Muni, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and the Pāṇḍavas.

  3. 3

    Taking shelter of devotees’ exemplary activities and the holy places where they reside keeps one safe on the path of devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Nārada Muni is one of the great devotees of the Lord who appeared among the demigods.
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja appeared among the demons, and many other great devotees, such as Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and the Pāṇḍavas, appeared among human beings.
  • One should take shelter of the devotees’ exemplary activities and also the holy places where devotees reside.

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 29: Bhakti-yoga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One should take advantage of the sacred abodes of the Lord, where His devotees reside, and one should serve the Lord and celebrate the festivals and holidays in His honor. By understanding all living beings to be Lord Kṛṣṇa’s place of residence, one can attain the ability to see equally everywhere, and thus all faulty qualities of envy, false ego and so on will be removed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. deśānplaces
  2. puṇyānsacred
  3. āśrayetahe should take shelter of
  4. mat-bhaktaiḥby My devotees
  5. sādhubhiḥsaintly
  6. śritānresorted to
  7. devaamong the demigods
  8. asurademons
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 11.29

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “safe”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you let the example of saintly devotees guide your devotional service?

Practice

Identify a holy place where the Lord’s devotees reside and take one small step toward visiting it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 11.29's connections

Live this todayFollow Devotees and Seek Holy ShelterThis 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 11.29.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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