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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 7: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Uddhava
11.7.2011.7.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.7.21

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 11.7.19inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

पुरुषत्वे च मां धीरा: साङ्ख्ययोगविशारदा: ।

आविस्तरां प्रपश्यन्ति सर्वशक्त्युपबृंहितम् ॥ २१ ॥

puruṣatve ca māṁ dhīrāḥ

sāṅkhya-yoga-viśāradāḥ

āvistarāṁ prapaśyanti

sarva-śakty-upabṛṁhitam

Translation

In the human form of life, those who are self-controlled and expert in the spiritual science of Sāṅkhya can directly see Me along with all of My potencies.

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.

Human Intelligence Finds Fulfillment in Devotion

  1. 1

    Human life provides the intelligence needed to understand spiritual knowledge and perfect our existence. Any man, woman or child may become a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa without discrimination.

  2. 2

    The Sāṅkhya system described here combines analytical knowledge with devotion. Its solid conclusion is shelter at the feet of pure devotees and love of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the goal of all knowledge and personally enlightens His sincere devotee. Those expert in taking shelter of pure devotees can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead with His potencies.

Key points from the purport
  • It is also significant that in the highly intellectual Sāṅkhya system enunciated by Lord Kapila, the solid conclusion is surrender to the lotus feet of the pure devotees and love of Godhead.
  • In the present verse Lord Kṛṣṇa says, sāṅkhya-yoga-viśāradāḥ: those who are expert in taking shelter of the pure devotees and who can thus understand the actual situation of this world are able to see Kṛṣṇa in His personal form, along with His internal and external potencies.
  • In this chapter, Lord Kṛṣṇa is training Uddhava to see the Lord’s personal form in the course of his daily experiences in the material world.

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· 2

The purport of SB 11.7.21 quotesSB 3.25.7

“I am very sick of the disturbance caused by my material senses, for because of this sense disturbance, my Lord, I have fallen into the abyss of ignorance.”

The purport of SB 11.7.21 quotesBG 10.10

The Lord also says in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10) that He personally enlightens a sincere devotee with all knowledge.

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

Grief and dependence → Detachment. The temporary world becomes a source of spiritual instruction.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 11: The avadhuta's twenty-four teachers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Uddhava

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Uddhava expressed the need for some instruction by which foolish persons who misidentify the body as the self can be convinced to carry out their duties in accordance with the order of the Supreme Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. puruṣatvein the human form of life
  2. caand
  3. māmMe
  4. dhīrāḥthose free from envy through spiritual knowledge
  5. sāṅkhya-yogain the spiritual science composed of analytical knowledge and devotion to the Supreme
  6. viśāradāḥwho are expert
  7. āvistarāmdirectly manifest
  8. prapaśyantithey clearly see
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “child”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my study helping me seek the mercy of pure devotees and deepen my devotion to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend five attentive minutes studying this purport, focusing on how knowledge leads to devotion rather than intellectual pride.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 3.25.7

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.7's connections

Live this todayHuman Intelligence Finds Fulfillment in DevotionThis 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 11.7.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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