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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 29: Bhakti-yoga
11.29.2011.29.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.21

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

यो यो मयि परे धर्म: कल्प्यते निष्फलाय चेत् ।

तदायासो निरर्थ: स्याद् भयादेरिव सत्तम ॥ २१ ॥

yo yo mayi pare dharmaḥ

kalpyate niṣphalāya cet

tad-āyāso nirarthaḥ syād

bhayāder iva sattama

Translation

O Uddhava, greatest of saints, in a dangerous situation an ordinary person cries, becomes fearful and laments, although such useless emotions do not change the situation. But activities offered to Me without personal motivation, even if they are externally useless, amount to the actual process of religion.

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.

Sincere Offerings Have Lasting Spiritual Value

  1. 1

    Fear and lamentation do not themselves change a dangerous situation. Yet an activity offered to the Supreme Lord without personal desire has spiritual value, even when it appears externally useless.

  2. 2

    Even the most insignificant activity, offered without personal desire, can elevate one to the perfection of spiritual life.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa always protects and maintains His devotee. He accepts prayers for protection or maintenance as the highest religious process when their purpose is to continue devotional service unimpeded.

Key points from the purport
  • Even the most insignificant activity, when offered to the Supreme Lord without personal desire, can elevate one to the perfection of spiritual life.
  • Actually, Lord Kṛṣṇa always protects and maintains His devotee.
  • But if a devotee cries to the Lord for protection or maintenance, desiring to continue his devotional service unimpeded, Lord Kṛṣṇa accepts such apparently unnecessary appeals to be the highest religious process.

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 Supreme Lord Himself — within the living entity as the caittya-guru and without as the spiritual master who teaches by example — eradicates all the misfortune of the spirit soul and reveals His own personal form. One should execute all duties for the sake of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, keeping one’s mind absorbed in Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥ yaḥwhatever
  2. mayiunto Me
  3. parethe Supreme
  4. dharmaḥis religion
  5. kalpyatetends
  6. niṣphalāyatoward becoming free from the result of material work
  7. cetif
  8. tatof that
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “fearful”, “dangerous”, “fear”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “religion”, “religious”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “laments”, “lamentation”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I ask Lord Kṛṣṇa for help, is my purpose to continue serving Him?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Lord Kṛṣṇa for the protection and maintenance needed to continue your devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySincere Offerings Have Lasting Spiritual ValueThis 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 11.29.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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