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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
11.29.1511.29.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.16

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

विसृज्य स्मयमानान् स्वान् द‍ृशं व्रीडां च दैहिकीम् ।

प्रणमेद् दण्डवद् भूमावाश्वचाण्डालगोखरम् ॥ १६ ॥

visṛjya smayamānān svān

dṛśaṁ vrīḍāṁ ca daihikīm

praṇamed daṇḍa-vad bhūmāv

ā-śva-cāṇḍāla-go-kharam

Translation

Disregarding the ridicule of one’s companions, one should give up the bodily conception and its accompanying embarrassment. One should offer obeisances before all — even the dogs, outcastes, cows and asses — falling flat upon the ground like a rod.

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.

Humbly Honor the Lord Within All

  1. 1

    One should give up the bodily conception and its embarrassment, disregarding ridicule while offering obeisances before all creatures.

  2. 2

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised devotees to consider themselves lower than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree. Such humility supports undisturbed pure devotional service.

  3. 3

    A devotee does not think that a cow or an ass is God. Rather, the devotee sees the Supreme Lord within all creatures.

Key points from the purport
  • One should practice seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead within all creatures.
  • In such a humble position, one will not be disturbed in the prosecution of pure devotional service to the Lord.
  • A devotee does not foolishly think that a cow or an ass is God, but rather the devotee sees the Supreme Lord within all creatures, and on this higher, spiritual plane he does not discriminate.

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:

Bearing this in mind, the devotee should give up his proud relatives, his separatist outlook and his mundane embarrassment and should offer obeisances flat on the ground to all, even the dogs and outcastes. As long as one has not learned to see the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in all creatures, he must continue to use his body, mind and speech to worship the Supreme Lord in that manner of offering full obeisances to all.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. visṛjyagiving up
  2. smayamānānwho are laughing
  3. svānone’s own friends
  4. dṛśamthe outlook
  5. vrīḍāmthe embarrassment
  6. caand
  7. daihikīmof the bodily conception
  8. praṇametone should offer obeisances
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: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “companions”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does fear of ridicule keep me from showing humble respect?

Practice

Take a moment today to practice seeing the Supreme Lord within an animal, without mistaking the animal itself for God.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHumbly Honor the Lord Within AllThis 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 11.29.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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