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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.3.31

Who is speaking and story frame

स्मरन्त: स्मारयन्तश्च मिथोऽघौघहरं हरिम् ।

भक्त्या सञ्जातया भक्त्या बिभ्रत्युत्पुलकां तनुम् ॥ ३१ ॥

smarantaḥ smārayantaś ca

mitho ’ghaugha-haraṁ harim

bhaktyā sañjātayā bhaktyā

bibhraty utpulakāṁ tanum

Translation

The devotees of the Lord constantly discuss the glories of the Personality of Godhead among themselves. Thus they constantly remember the Lord and remind one another of His qualities and pastimes. In this way, by their devotion to the principles of bhakti-yoga, the devotees please the Personality of Godhead, who takes away from them everything inauspicious. Being purified of all impediments, the devotees awaken to pure love of Godhead, and thus, even within this world, their spiritualized bodies exhibit symptoms of transcendental ecstasy, such as standing of the bodily hairs on end.

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.

Remembering Kṛṣṇa Together Awakens Love

  1. 1

    Devotees discuss the Lord’s glories, remembering Him and reminding one another of His qualities and pastimes. This devotion pleases the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Neglecting our eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa brings sinful reactions and material suffering. Kṛṣṇa removes these reactions from His devotees, allowing them to experience spiritual bliss even in this world.

  3. 3

    Devotional practice progresses from sādhana-bhakti, following regulative principles, to rāgānuga-bhakti, service executed in love of Godhead. A liberated devotee is enthusiastic and longs to remain absorbed in chanting the Lord’s glories.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entity is actually sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha, or eternal and full of bliss and knowledge, but by neglecting his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, he commits sinful activities and undergoes the inauspicious result in the form of material suffering.
  • Kṛṣṇa is aghaugha-haraṁ harim; He takes away the sinful reactions of His devotees, who are thus entitled to experience the inconceivable bliss of the kingdom of God even while remaining in this world.
  • Thus he always aspires to remain overwhelmed in chanting the glories of the Personality of Godhead, Hari.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 25.140

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.3.31).

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:

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. By learning the science of devotional service and practically engaging in the devotional service of the Lord, the devotee comes to the stage of love of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. smarantaḥremembering
  2. smārayantaḥ caand reminding
  3. mithaḥone another
  4. agha-ogha-haramwho takes away everything inauspicious from the devotee
  5. harimthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. bhaktyāby devotion
  7. sañjātayāawakened
  8. bhaktyāby devotion
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: “devotion”, “devotees”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.3

    In this verse: “purified”, “sinful”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could discussing Kṛṣṇa’s qualities help me remember Him more often?

Practice

Share one quality of Kṛṣṇa from this verse with another person, and take a moment together to remember Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembering Kṛṣṇa Together Awakens LoveThis 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 11.3.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.