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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.34

Who is speaking and story frame

मर्त्यो यदा त्यक्तसमस्तकर्मा

निवेदितात्मा विचिकीर्षितो मे ।

तदामृतत्त्वं प्रतिपद्यमानो

मयात्मभूयाय च कल्पते वै ॥ ३४ ॥

martyo yadā tyakta-samasta-karmā

niveditātmā vicikīrṣito me

tadāmṛtatvaṁ pratipadyamāno

mayātma-bhūyāya ca kalpate vai

Translation

A person who gives up all fruitive activities and offers himself entirely unto Me, eagerly desiring to render service unto Me, achieves liberation from birth and death and is promoted to the status of sharing My own opulences.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Offer Yourself Entirely in Service

  1. 1

    The Lord describes a person who gives up all fruitive activities and offers himself entirely unto Him.

  2. 2

    This surrender includes an eager desire to render service to the Lord.

  3. 3

    Such a person achieves liberation from birth and death and becomes qualified to share the Lord’s opulences.

Connected verses· 2

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 22.103

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.34).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Antya 4.194

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.34).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

When one offers himself completely to the Supreme Lord with exclusive devotion, the Lord becomes particularly pleased, and thus the devotee achieves immortality, becoming qualified to obtain opulence equal to that of the Lord. After receiving these instructions, Śrī Uddhava went to Badarikāśrama in pursuance of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s order, and by perfectly carrying out the instructions of the Supreme Lord, he attained the Lord’s transcendental abode.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. martyaḥa mortal
  2. yadāwhen
  3. tyaktahaving given up
  4. samastaall
  5. karmāhis fruitive activities
  6. nivedita-ātmāhaving offered his very self
  7. vicikīrṣitaḥdesirous of doing something special
  8. mefor Me
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: “death”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “surrender”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

In what part of my day could I replace the desire for personal reward with eagerness to serve?

Practice

Choose one small act of service to the Lord today and do it without seeking a personal reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Yourself Entirely in ServiceThis 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 11.29.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.