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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
11.29.3211.29.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.33

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

ज्ञाने कर्मणि योगे च वार्तायां दण्डधारणे ।

यावानर्थो नृणां तात तावांस्तेऽहं चतुर्विध: ॥ ३३ ॥

jñāne karmaṇi yoge ca

vārtāyāṁ daṇḍa-dhāraṇe

yāvān artho nṛṇāṁ tāta

tāvāṁs te ’haṁ catur-vidhaḥ

Translation

Through analytic knowledge, ritualistic work, mystic yoga, mundane business and political rule, people seek to advance in religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. But because you are My devotee, whatever men can accomplish in these multifarious ways you will very easily find within Me.

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.

All Accomplishments Are Found in Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    People pursue knowledge, ritualistic work, mystic yoga, business and political rule to attain the four goals of human life.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa tells His devotee that whatever people accomplish through these paths can very easily be found within Him.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is the basis of all that exists. One who takes exclusive shelter of Him never suffers any loss for that intelligent decision.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa is the basis of all that exists, and one who takes exclusive shelter of the Lord never suffers any loss whatsoever for his intelligent decision to surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

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. jñānein the process of knowledge
  2. karmaṇiin fruitive work
  3. yogein mystic yoga
  4. caand
  5. vārtāyāmin ordinary business
  6. daṇḍa-dhāraṇein political rule
  7. yāvānwhatever
  8. arthaḥaccomplishment
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What concern makes it difficult for me to trust in taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Identify one goal you are pursuing and offer a brief prayer to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa rather than depend only on your own efforts.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAll Accomplishments Are Found in KṛṣṇaThis 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 11.29.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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