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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
11.3.5411.4.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.3.55

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

एवमग्‍न्यर्कतोयादावतिथौ हृदये च य: ।

यजतीश्वरमात्मानमचिरान्मुच्यते हि स: ॥ ५५ ॥

evam agny-arka-toyādāv

atithau hṛdaye ca yaḥ

yajatīśvaram ātmānam

acirān mucyate hi saḥ

Translation

Thus the worshiper of the Supreme Lord should recognize that the Personality of Godhead is all-pervading and should worship Him through His presence in fire, the sun, water and other elements, in the heart of the guest one receives in one’s home, and also in one’s own heart. In this way the worshiper will very soon achieve liberation.

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.

Worship the All-Pervading Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The worshiper should recognize that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervading. Worship Him through His presence in fire, the sun, water and other elements.

  2. 2

    The Lord is present in the heart of a guest received in your home and also in your own heart. These are also places to recognize His presence and worship Him.

  3. 3

    By worshiping the Supreme Lord in this way, the worshiper will very soon achieve liberation. The verse directs us toward worship of Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Liberation from the Illusory Energy.”

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:

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. In this way the devotee quickly becomes liberated from all material bondage.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. agniin fire
  3. arkathe sun
  4. toyawater
  5. ādauand so on
  6. atithauin the guest at ones’s home
  7. hṛdayein one’s heart
  8. caalso
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: “worshiper”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can recognizing the Lord’s presence in a guest’s heart deepen my attitude of worship?

Practice

On seeing sunlight or water today, pause to remember the Supreme Lord’s presence there and offer Him a brief prayer.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship the All-Pervading Supreme LordThis 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 11.3.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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