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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 6: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa
11.6.811.6.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.9

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 11.6.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शुद्धिर्नृणां न तु तथेड्य दुराशयानां

विद्याश्रुताध्ययनदानतप:क्रियाभि: ।

सत्त्वात्मनामृषभ ते यशसि प्रवृद्ध-

सच्छ्रद्धया श्रवणसम्भृतया यथा स्यात् ॥ ९ ॥

śuddhir nṛṇāṁ na tu tatheḍya durāśayānāṁ

vidyā-śrutādhyayana-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyābhiḥ

sattvātmanām ṛṣabha te yaśasi pravṛddha-

sac-chraddhayā śravaṇa-sambhṛtayā yathā syāt

Translation

O greatest of all, those whose consciousness is polluted by illusion cannot purify themselves merely by ordinary worship, study of the Vedas, charity, austerity and ritual activities. Our Lord, those pure souls who have developed a powerful transcendental faith in Your glories achieve a purified state of existence that can never be attained by those lacking such faith.

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.

Faith and Devotion Bring True Purification

  1. 1

    Even without qualifications such as Vedic study or austerity, a pure devotee with unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa is saved by the Lord because of his devotion.

  2. 2

    Pride in scholarship or ordinary piety cannot replace hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s glories. Material piety, charity and scholarship alone cannot purify the transcendental soul.

  3. 3

    Only the Supreme Lord can purify the living entity by bestowing His mercy within the heart. Even hearing about Kṛṣṇa brings all perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • Even if a pure devotee is lacking the above qualifications, such as Vedic study and austerity, if he has unflinching faith in Lord Kṛṣṇa the Lord will save him because of his devotion.
  • On the other hand, if one becomes falsely proud of one’s material qualifications, including ordinary piety, but does not devote himself to hearing and chanting the glories of Kṛṣṇa, the result will ultimately be nil.
  • The transcendental spirit soul cannot be purified by any amount of material piety, charity or scholarship.

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 6: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One cannot actually purify the mind by ordinary worship, penance and other such processes. One can purify the mind contaminated by sense gratification only through mature faith in the mode of goodness, which arises by hearing the glories of Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śuddhiḥpurification
  2. nṛṇāmof persons
  3. nais not
  4. tubut
  5. tathāin such a way
  6. īḍyaO worshipable one
  7. durāśayānāmof those whose consciousness is contaminated
  8. vidyāby ordinary worship
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 11.6

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I relying more on my qualifications or on devotion and the Lord’s mercy?

Practice

Read aloud one statement glorifying Kṛṣṇa today, with a sincere desire to receive His mercy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFaith and Devotion Bring True PurificationThis 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 11.6.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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