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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
11.29.511.29.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.6

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.29.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

नैवोपयन्त्यपचितिं कवयस्तवेश

ब्रह्मायुषापि कृतमृद्धमुद: स्मरन्त: ।

योऽन्तर्बहिस्तनुभृतामशुभं विधुन्वन्न

आचार्यचैत्त्यवपुषा स्वगतिं व्यनक्ति ॥ ६ ॥

naivopayanty apacitiṁ kavayas taveśa

brahmāyuṣāpi kṛtam ṛddha-mudaḥ smarantaḥ

yo ’ntar bahis tanu-bhṛtām aśubhaṁ vidhunvann

ācārya-caittya-vapuṣā sva-gatiṁ vyanakti

Translation

O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features — externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul — to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.

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.

The Lord Guides Within and Without

  1. 1

    Even with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, learned devotees could not fully express their indebtedness to the Lord for guiding them to Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord appears within the heart as the Supersoul and externally as the spiritual master. He also appears as His literary incarnation in Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is far dearer to a devotee than life itself. Even immense periods of devotional service cannot repay the debt felt for receiving loving service to His lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Lord Kṛṣṇa is ten million times more dear to a devotee than life itself.
  • And according to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, even by rendering devotional service for the total duration of one thousand universal creations, a devotee cannot repay the debt he feels to the Lord for having awarded him loving service to the Lord’s lotus feet.
  • The Lord appears within the heart as the Supersoul and externally both as the spiritual master and as His literary incarnation — the supreme Vedic knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 1.48

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.6) was spoken by Śrī Uddhava after he heard from Śrī Kṛṣṇa all necessary instructions about yoga.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 22.48

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.6).

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:

The Supreme Lord Himself — within the living entity as the caittya-guru and without as the spiritual master who teaches by example — eradicates all the misfortune of the spirit soul and reveals His own personal form. One should execute all duties for the sake of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, keeping one’s mind absorbed in Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. na evanot at all
  2. upayantiare able to express
  3. apacitimtheir gratitude
  4. kavayaḥlearned devotees
  5. tavaYour
  6. īśaO Lord
  7. brahma-āyuṣāwith a lifetime equal to Lord Brahmā’s
  8. apiin spite of
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does recognizing the Lord’s guidance deepen your gratitude for the opportunity to serve Him?

Practice

Read a short passage from Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with gratitude for the Lord’s guidance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Guides Within and WithoutThis 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 11.29.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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