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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
11.3.2911.3.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.3.30

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

परस्परानुकथनं पावनं भगवद्यश: ।

मिथो रतिर्मिथस्तुष्टिर्निवृत्तिर्मिथ आत्मन: ॥ ३० ॥

parasparānukathanaṁ

pāvanaṁ bhagavad-yaśaḥ

mitho ratir mithas tuṣṭir

nivṛttir mitha ātmanaḥ

Translation

One should learn how to associate with the devotees of the Lord by gathering with them to chant the glories of the Lord. This process is most purifying. As devotees thus develop their loving friendship, they feel mutual happiness and satisfaction. And by thus encouraging one another they are able to give up material sense gratification, which is the cause of all suffering.

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.

Glorify the Lord Together

  1. 1

    Devotees should give up envy and quarrelling and gather to chant the Supreme Lord’s glories for mutual purification. Such glorification is especially powerful in the association of pure devotees.

  2. 2

    Chanting together brings spiritual happiness, loving friendship and satisfaction. Devotees encourage one another to give up material sense gratification, which causes suffering.

  3. 3

    Learn to increase your love for devotees and give up sense objects unfavorable to serving Kṛṣṇa. By seeing the world’s objects as meant for His service and engaging them accordingly, you naturally become detached from them.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus they encourage one another to give up material sense gratification, which is based on illicit sexual connections with women.
  • One should learn to increase one’s love for the devotees, to satisfy them and to give up sense objects unfavorable to serving Kṛṣṇa.
  • Therefore, one who wants to be free from the harassment of māyā in the form of sense gratification must constantly associate with pure devotees of the Lord who have no engagement other than chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord and carrying out His mission on earth.

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

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:

In this way one becomes able to give up material sense gratification, which is the cause of all suffering. When a devotee attains the stage of pure love of Godhead, the hairs of his body stand on end, and he manifests various ecstatic symptoms; he personally meets the Supreme Lord and becomes full of transcendental bliss.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. parasparamutual
  2. anukathanamdiscussion
  3. pāvanampurifying
  4. bhagavatof the Supreme Lord
  5. yaśaḥglories
  6. mithaḥmutual
  7. ratiḥloving attraction
  8. mithaḥmutual
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “give up”, “detached”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “chant”, “glorification”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can my association with devotees become more centered on glorifying and serving Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Gather with a devotee today to read and discuss a short passage from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam glorifying the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGlorify the Lord TogetherThis 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 11.3.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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