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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
11.29.711.29.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.29.8

Mukti· Liberation
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

श्रीभगवानुवाच

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि मम धर्मान् सुमङ्गलान् ।

यान् श्रद्धयाचरन् मर्त्यो मृत्युं जयति दुर्जयम् ॥ ८ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi

mama dharmān su-maṅgalān

yān śraddhayācaran martyo

mṛtyuṁ jayati durjayam

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Yes, I shall describe to you the principles of devotion to Me, by executing which a mortal human being will conquer unconquerable death.

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.

Devotion Conquers Otherwise Unconquerable Death

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead agrees to describe the principles of devotion to Him.

  2. 2

    These principles are meant to be carried out, not merely heard.

  3. 3

    By executing devotion to the Lord, a mortal human being can conquer otherwise unconquerable death.

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 fruitive workers and mystic yogīs, who are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and puffed up by their false identifications, refuse to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. But the swanlike men, those who know how to discriminate between the essential and nonessential, always take shelter at the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. hantayes
  3. teto you
  4. kathayiṣyāmiI shall speak
  5. mamarelating to Me
  6. dharmānreligious principles
  7. su-maṅgalānmost auspicious
  8. yānwhich
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.29

    In this verse: “death”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord’s promise encourage you to put devotion into practice?

Practice

Before your devotional practice today, recall the Lord’s promise that devotion to Him conquers death.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Conquers Otherwise Unconquerable DeathThis 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 11.29.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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