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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
11.3.50-5111.3.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.3.52-53

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Āvirhotrasince 11.3.43inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

साङ्गोपाङ्गां सपार्षदां तां तां मूर्तिं स्वमन्त्रत: ।

पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयाद्यै: स्न‍ानवासोविभूषणै: ॥ ५२ ॥

गन्धमाल्याक्षतस्रग्भिर्धूपदीपोपहारकै: ।

साङ्गंसम्पूज्य विधिवत् स्तवै: स्तुत्वा नमेद्धरिम् ॥ ५३ ॥

sāṅgopāṅgāṁ sa-pārṣadāṁ

tāṁ tāṁ mūrtiṁ sva-mantrataḥ

pādyārghyācamanīyādyaiḥ

snāna-vāso-vibhūṣaṇaiḥ

gandha-mālyākṣata-sragbhir

dhūpa-dīpopahārakaiḥ

sāṅgam sampūjya vidhivat

stavaiḥ stutvā named dharim

Translation

One should worship the Deity along with each of the limbs of His transcendental body, His weapons such as the Sudarśana cakra, His other bodily features and His personal associates. One should worship each of these transcendental aspects of the Lord by its own mantra and with offerings of water to wash the feet, scented water, water to wash the mouth, water for bathing, fine clothing and ornaments, fragrant oils, valuable necklaces, unbroken barleycorns, flower garlands, incense and lamps. Having thus completed the worship in all its aspects in accordance with the prescribed regulations, one should then honor the Deity of Lord Hari with prayers and offer obeisances to Him by bowing down.

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.

Honor the Lord With Careful, Complete Worship

  1. 1

    Worship includes the Deity’s transcendental limbs, bodily features, weapons such as the Sudarśana cakra, and personal associates. Each is honored with its appropriate mantra.

  2. 2

    The prescribed offerings include water, clothing, ornaments, fragrances, garlands, incense and lamps. The purport clarifies that unbroken barleycorns are for decorating the Deity with tilaka, not for the actual pūjā of Lord Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    After completing the prescribed worship, the devotee should honor Lord Hari with prayers. One should also offer obeisances by bowing down before Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī has mentioned that akṣata, or unbroken barleycorns (mentioned in verse 53), are to be used in decorating the Deity with tilaka, and not in the actual pūjā.
  • Nākṣatair arcayed viṣṇuṁ na ketakyā maheśvaram: “Lord Viṣṇu should not be worshiped with unbroken barleycorns, and Lord Śiva should not be worshiped with ketakī flowers.”

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:

If a conditioned soul worships the Supreme Lord Hari by following the regulations found in Vedic literatures such as the tantras, he will quickly become free from the bondage of false ego. When a devotee obtains the mercy of his spiritual master, who reveals to him the injunctions of Vedic scriptures, he worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the particular personal form he finds most attractive.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sa-aṅgaincluding the limbs of His transcendental body
  2. upāṅgāmand His special bodily features such as His Sudarśana disc and other weapons
  3. sa-pārṣadāmalong with His personal associates
  4. tām tāmeach particular
  5. mūrtimDeity
  6. sva-mantrataḥby the Deity’s own mantra
  7. pādyawith water for bathing the feet
  8. arghyascented water for greeting
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: “worship”, “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I give care to both the details of worship and the prayers that conclude it?

Practice

Conclude your worship today by offering a prayer to Lord Hari and bowing down before Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor the Lord With Careful, Complete WorshipThis 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 11.3.52-53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.