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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

11.29.48 11.30.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.49

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 11.29.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भवभयमपहन्तुं ज्ञानविज्ञानसारं

निगमकृदुपजह्रे भृङ्गवद् वेदसारम् ।

अमृतमुदधितश्चापाययद् भृत्यवर्गान्

पुरुषमृषभमाद्यं कृष्णसंज्ञं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ४९ ॥

bhava-bhayam apahantuṁ jñāna-vijñāna-sāraṁ

nigama-kṛd upajahre bhṛṅga-vad veda-sāram

amṛtam udadhitaś cāpāyayad bhṛtya-vargān

puruṣam ṛṣabham ādyaṁ kṛṣṇa-saṁjñaṁ nato ’smi

Translation

I offer my obeisances to that Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original and greatest of all beings, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is the author of the Vedas, and just to destroy His devotees’ fear of material existence, like a bee He has collected this nectarean essence of all knowledge and self-realization. Thus He has awarded to His many devotees this nectar from the ocean of bliss, and by His mercy they have drunk it.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Goal of Vedic Knowledge

1
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original and greatest of all beings, and the author of the Vedas. He gives His devotees the nectar of knowledge and self-realization to destroy their fear of material existence.
2
Like a bee taking nectar without harming a flower, Kṛṣṇa extracts the essence of Vedic knowledge without disturbing its elaborate system of advancement. He establishes Himself as its goal without destroying preliminary processes for materially absorbed people.
3
By Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, His devotees drink this nectar from the ocean of bliss. Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī concludes by offering obeisances to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual master of the entire universe.

Key points from the purport

Just as a bee extracts nectar from a flower without harming the flower, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa extracts the essence of all Vedic knowledge without disturbing the elaborate system of Vedic advancement.
In other words, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa establishes Himself as the goal of Vedic knowledge without destroying preliminary, inferior processes that may be applicable to grossly materialistic men.
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī thus concludes by offering his obeisances to the spiritual master of the entire universe, Lord Śrī 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

Chapter 29: Bhakti-yoga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. By faithfully serving these instructions spoken by the Personality of Godhead to Uddhava, the greatest of devotees, the entire world can become liberated.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.29

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

bhavaof material life
bhayamthe fear
apahantumin order to take away
jñāna-vijñānaof knowledge and self-realization
sāramthe essence
nigamaof the Vedas
kṛtthe author
upajahredelivered

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.29
In this verse: “devotees’”, “devotees”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.29
In this verse: “material”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.29
In this verse: “knowledge”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can your study remain directed toward Kṛṣṇa and devotional service rather than knowledge alone?

Practice

After studying today, offer obeisances to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and thank Him for His merciful teachings.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Goal of Vedic KnowledgeThis 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.

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