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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
11.29.111.29.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.29.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

प्रायश: पुण्डरीकाक्ष युञ्जन्ते योगिनो मन: ।

विषीदन्त्यसमाधानान्मनोनिग्रहकर्शिता: ॥ २ ॥

prāyaśaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣa

yuñjanto yogino manaḥ

viṣīdanty asamādhānān

mano-nigraha-karśitāḥ

Translation

O lotus-eyed Lord, generally those yogīs who try to steady the mind experience frustration because of their inability to perfect the state of trance. Thus they weary in their attempt to bring the mind under control.

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.

Take Shelter When the Mind Struggles

  1. 1

    Yogīs trying to steady the mind often become frustrated because they cannot perfect the state of trance.

  2. 2

    The effort to bring the mind under control can leave them weary.

  3. 3

    Without the shelter of the Supreme Lord, a yogī easily becomes discouraged in fixing the mind on Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Without the shelter of the Supreme Lord, a yogī easily becomes discouraged in the difficult task of fixing his mind on the Supreme.

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:

The fruitive workers and mystic yogīs, who are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and puffed up by their false identifications, refuse to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. But the swanlike men, those who know how to discriminate between the essential and nonessential, always take shelter at the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prāyaśaḥfor the most part
  2. puṇḍarīka-akṣaO lotus-eyed Lord
  3. yuñjantaḥwho engage
  4. yoginaḥyogīs
  5. manaḥthe mind
  6. viṣīdantibecome frustrated
  7. asamādhānātbecause of inability to attain trance
  8. manaḥ-nigrahaby the attempt to subdue the mind
  9. karśitāḥweary
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When your mind becomes difficult to steady, do you seek the Supreme Lord’s shelter?

Practice

When you notice your mind wandering today, pause and ask the Supreme Lord for shelter.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter When the Mind StrugglesThis 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 11.29.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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