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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 11.29.38

Who is speaking and story frame

प्रत्यर्पितो मे भवतानुकम्पिना

भृत्याय विज्ञानमय: प्रदीप: ।

हित्वा कृतज्ञस्तव पादमूलं

कोऽन्यं समीयाच्छरणं त्वदीयम् ॥ ३८ ॥

pratyarpito me bhavatānukampinā

bhṛtyāya vijñāna-mayaḥ pradīpaḥ

hitvā kṛta-jñas tava pāda-mūlaṁ

ko ’nyaṁ samīyāc charaṇaṁ tvadīyam

Translation

In return for my insignificant surrender, You have mercifully bestowed upon me, Your servant, the torchlight of transcendental knowledge. Therefore, what devotee of Yours who has any gratitude could ever give up Your lotus feet and take shelter of another master?

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.

Gratitude Keeps Us at His Feet

  1. 1

    Uddhava regards his own surrender as insignificant and addresses himself as the Lord’s servant.

  2. 2

    In return, the Lord has mercifully given him the torchlight of transcendental knowledge.

  3. 3

    Uddhava asks how any grateful devotee could abandon the Lord’s lotus feet and seek another master.

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. pratyarpitaḥoffered in return
  2. meto me
  3. bhavatāby Your good self
  4. anukampināwho is merciful
  5. bhṛtyāyato Your servant
  6. vijñāna-mayaḥof transcendental knowledge
  7. pradīpaḥthe torchlight
  8. hitvāgiving up
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “surrender”, “shelter”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “give up”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does gratitude for the Lord’s teachings strengthen my desire to remain His servant?

Practice

Offer a short prayer thanking the Lord for transcendental knowledge and asking to remain at His lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGratitude Keeps Us at His FeetThis 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 11.29.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.