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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
11.29.1611.29.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.17

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

यावत् सर्वेषु भूतेषु मद्भ‍ावो नोपजायते ।

तावदेवमुपासीत वाङ्‍मन:कायवृत्तिभि: ॥ १७ ॥

yāvat sarveṣu bhūteṣu

mad-bhāvo nopajāyate

tāvad evam upāsīta

vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-vṛttibhiḥ

Translation

Until one has fully developed the ability to see Me within all living beings, one must continue to worship Me by this process with the activities of his speech, mind and body.

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.

Practice Respect With Speech, Mind and Body

  1. 1

    Until one fully realizes the Supreme Lord within all beings, one should continue worshiping Him through speech, mind and body.

  2. 2

    One should continue offering obeisances to all creatures. When physically bowing is not possible, one can offer respect mentally or through words.

  3. 3

    This practice of respecting all living beings accelerates the devotee’s self-realization.

Key points from the purport
  • Until one fully realizes the Supreme Lord within all beings, he should continue the process of offering obeisances to all creatures.
  • Although one may not be able to actually fall on the ground before all creatures, at least within his mind or by his words one should offer respect to all living beings.

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:

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. Because this eternal process of devotional service to the Supreme Lord is transcendental and has been established by the Lord Himself, it can never, to the slightest extent, be defeated or prove fruitless.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yāvatas long as
  2. sarveṣuin all
  3. bhūteṣuliving entities
  4. mat-bhāvaḥthe vision of My presence
  5. na upajāyatedoes not fully develop
  6. tāvatfor that long
  7. evamin this way
  8. upāsītaone must worship
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: “worship”, “devotee’s”, “worshiping”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I offer respect when physically bowing is not possible?

Practice

Mentally offer respect to one living being you would ordinarily overlook, remembering the Supreme Lord within.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPractice Respect With Speech, Mind and BodyThis 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 11.29.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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