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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
11.29.211.29.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.3

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

अथात आनन्ददुघं पदाम्बुजं

हंसा: श्रयेरन्नरविन्दलोचन ।

सुखं नु विश्वेश्वर योगकर्मभि-

स्त्वन्माययामी विहता न मानिन: ॥ ३ ॥

athāta ānanda-dughaṁ padāmbujaṁ

haṁsāḥ śrayerann aravinda-locana

sukhaṁ nu viśveśvara yoga-karmabhis

tvan-māyayāmī vihatā na māninaḥ

Translation

Therefore, O lotus-eyed Lord of the universe, swanlike men happily take shelter of Your lotus feet, the source of all transcendental ecstasy. But those who take pride in their accomplishments in yoga and karma fail to take shelter of You and are defeated by Your illusory energy.

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.

Humble Shelter Brings Spiritual Perfection

  1. 1

    One can achieve spiritual perfection simply by taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The most discriminating people recognize His lotus feet as the actual source of spiritual happiness.

  2. 2

    Those proud of achievements in mystic yoga or material work are often more attracted to their own endeavor than to the Lord. They fail to appreciate obedient surrender and are defeated by His illusory energy.

  3. 3

    By humbly taking shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one can advance easily and quickly in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and go back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrī Uddhava emphasizes here that one can achieve spiritual perfection simply by taking shelter of the Personality of Godhead.
  • The word yoga-karmabhiḥ indicates that those who are attracted to or proud of achievements in the field of mystic yoga or ordinary material endeavor cannot appreciate the great advantage of obediently surrendering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • By humbly taking shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one can advance easily and quickly on the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and go back home, back to Godhead.

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. athanow
  2. ataḥtherefore
  3. ānanda-dughamthe source of all ecstasy
  4. pada-ambujamYour lotus feet
  5. haṁsāḥthe swanlike men
  6. śrayerantake shelter of
  7. aravinda-locanaO lotus-eyed
  8. sukhamhappily
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “pride”, “proud”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “shelter”, “surrender”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “ecstasy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does pride in your own effort sometimes distract you from taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a short prayer to Lord Kṛṣṇa asking for humble dependence on Him rather than pride in your accomplishments.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHumble Shelter Brings Spiritual PerfectionThis 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 11.29.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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