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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 3: Liberation from the Illusory Energy
11.3.2111.3.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.3.22

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Prabuddhasince 11.3.18inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

तत्र भागवतान् धर्मान् शिक्षेद् गुर्वात्मदैवत: ।

अमाययानुवृत्त्या यैस्तुष्येदात्मात्मदोहरि: ॥ २२ ॥

tatra bhāgavatān dharmān

śikṣed gurv-ātma-daivataḥ

amāyayānuvṛttyā yais

tuṣyed ātmātma-do hariḥ

Translation

Accepting the bona fide spiritual master as one’s life and soul and worshipable deity, the disciple should learn from him the process of pure devotional service. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, the soul of all souls, is inclined to give Himself to His pure devotees. Therefore, the disciple should learn from the spiritual master to serve the Lord without duplicity and in such a faithful and favorable way that the Supreme Lord, being satisfied, will offer Himself to the faithful disciple.

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.

Learn Faithful Service From the Spiritual Master

  1. 1

    The bona fide spiritual master awakens the disciple to spiritual life and is therefore the very basis of the disciple’s life. The disciple should take shelter of him and learn pure devotional service with faith and devotion.

  2. 2

    One should eagerly serve the spiritual master, not try to use him for material gain. The Supreme Lord, Hari, is so pleased by pure, faithful service without duplicity that He gives Himself to His devotee.

  3. 3

    Hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a bona fide spiritual master awakens loving service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such hearing and service relieve lamentation, illusion and fear.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī comments that the spiritual master is to be considered the ātmā, or the very life, of the disciple, since real life begins when one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master.
  • One should see the spiritual master as being always under the shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.
  • By always remembering the exalted position of the bona fide spiritual master, the disciple will achieve shelter at the lotus feet of 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.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.3.22 quotesSB 1.7.7

“Simply by giving aural reception to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness.”

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

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Liberation from the Illusory Energy

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Accepting the bona fide spiritual master as one’s life and soul, the submissive disciple should learn from him the process of pure devotional service, which satisfies the Supreme Lord. By thus following the path of devotional service, the disciple gradually develops all good qualities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrathere (in the association of the spiritual master)
  2. bhāgavatān dharmānthe science of devotional service
  3. śikṣetshould learn
  4. guru-ātma-daivataḥhe for whom the spiritual master is his very life and worshipable deity
  5. amāyayāwithout deceit
  6. anuvṛttyāby faithful service
  7. yaiḥby which (devotional science)
  8. tuṣyetcan be satisfied
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 11.3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “favorable”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking guidance to serve faithfully, or to gain something material for myself?

Practice

Read aloud a short passage from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam today, with the intention of learning how to serve Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.3's connections

Live this todayLearn Faithful Service From the Spiritual MasterThis 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 11.3.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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