FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.17.1-2

श्रीउद्धव उवाच यस्त्वयाभिहित: पूर्वं धर्मस्त्वद्भ‍‍क्तिलक्षण: । वर्णाश्रमाचारवतां सर्वेषां द्विपदामपि ॥ १ ॥ यथानुष्ठीयमानेन त्वयि भक्तिर्नृणां भवेत् । स्वधर्मेणारविन्दाक्ष तन् ममाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ २ ॥
śrī-uddhava uvāca
[shree-uddhava uvaacha]
yas tvayābhihitaḥ pūrvaṁ
[yas tvayaabhihitah poorvam]
dharmas tvad-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ
[dharmas tvad-bhakti-lakshanah]
varṇāśramācāravatāṁ
[varnaashramaachaaravataam]
sarveṣāṁ dvi-padām api
[sarveshaam dvi-padaam api]
yathānuṣṭhīyamānena
[yathaanushtheeyamaanena]
tvayi bhaktir nṛṇāṁ bhavet
[tvayi bhaktir nrinaam bhavet]
sva-dharmeṇāravindākṣa
[sva-dharmenaaravindaaksha]
tan mamākhyātum arhasi
[tan mamaakhyaatum arhasi]
Word-for-word
śrī-uddhavaḥ uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said yaḥ — which tvayā — by You abhihitaḥ — described pūrvam — previously dharmaḥ — religious principles tvat-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ — characterized by devotional service to Your Lordship varṇa-āśrama — of the varṇāśrama system ācāravatām — of the faithful followers sarveṣām — of all dvi-padām — of ordinary human beings (who do not follow the varṇāśrama system) api — even yathā — according to anuṣṭhīyamānena — the process being executed tvayi — in You bhaktiḥ — loving service nṛṇām — of human beings bhavet — may be sva-dharmeṇa — by one’s own occupational duty aravinda-akṣa — O lotus-eyed one tat — that mama — to me ākhyātum — to explain arhasi — You ought.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-uddhava uvāca
śrī-uddhavaḥ uvāca
Śrī Uddhava said
yas tvayābhihitaḥ pūrvaṁ
yaḥ
which
tvayā
by You
abhihitaḥ
described
pūrvam
previously
dharmas tvad-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ
dharmaḥ
religious principles
tvat-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ
characterized by devotional service to Your Lordship
varṇāśramācāravatāṁ
varṇa-āśrama
of the varṇāśrama system
ācāravatām
of the faithful followers
sarveṣāṁ dvi-padām api
sarveṣām
of all
dvi-padām
of ordinary human beings (who do not follow the varṇāśrama system)
api
even
yathānuṣṭhīyamānena
yathā
according to
anuṣṭhīyamānena
the process being executed
tvayi bhaktir nṛṇāṁ bhavet
tvayi
in You
bhaktiḥ
loving service
nṛṇām
of human beings
bhavet
may be
sva-dharmeṇāravindākṣa
sva-dharmeṇa
by one’s own occupational duty
aravinda-akṣa
O lotus-eyed one
tan mamākhyātum arhasi
tat
that
mama
to me
ākhyātum
to explain
arhasi
You ought.
Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Lord, previously You described the principles of devotional service that are to be practiced by followers of the varṇāśrama system and even ordinary, unregulated human beings. My dear lotus-eyed Lord, now please explain to me how all human beings can achieve loving service unto You by the execution of their prescribed duties.
Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa has already elaborately explained the process of jñāna-yoga, bhakti-yoga and aṣṭāṅga-yoga. Now Uddhava inquires how those inclined toward karma-yoga can achieve the perfection of life, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In Bhagavad-gītā (4.13) Lord Kṛṣṇa describes that He is personally the creator of the varṇāśrama system. Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ. Therefore the ultimate goal of the varṇāśrama system is to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, one should become a devotee of the Lord and learn the process of pure devotional service. The easiest method of achieving pure devotional service is by the association of pure devotees of the Lord. If one submissively and faithfully associates with pure devotees, one can immediately achieve the perfection of life. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person is not required to execute all the formalities of the varṇāśrama system, because a Kṛṣṇa conscious person, absorbed in love of Godhead, automatically gives up all sense gratification and mental speculation. Those human beings who do not follow the varṇāśrama system are here referred to as dvi-padām, or two-legged. In other words, one who does not follow the religious path of life is known to be human only by the possession of two legs. Even ordinary animals and insects are eagerly engaged in eating, sleeping, mating and defending; the human being, however, is distinguished from such lower forms of life by his capacity to become religious and, ultimately, to love God in pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Uddhava said: O lotus-eyed Lord! Previously you described dharma of bhakti arising in followers of varṇāśrama and even ordinary human beings. Now you should explain to me how all human beings can achieve mixed or secondary bhakti for you by the execution of their prescribed duties. In the Seventeenth Chapter, Kṛṣṇa, requested by Uddhava, explains to him about karma mixed with bhakti as described by Haṁsa, and the duties of brahmacārīs and householders. Having heard jñāna, bhakti and aṣṭāṅga-yoga from Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava will ask about karma-yoga while reviewing what was previously explained, in seven verses. Previously, at the beginning of the kalpa, you said: kālena naṣṭā pralaye vāṇīyaṁ veda-saṁjñitā mayādau brahmaṇe proktā dharmo yasyāṁ mad-ātmakaḥ By the influence of time, the Vedic knowledge was lost at the time of annihilation. Therefore, when the subsequent creation took place, I spoke to Brahmā the Vedic knowledge in which bhakti is the essence. SB 11.14.3 That dharma of bhakti has three types: pure bhakti, mixed bhakti and secondary bhakti. Pure bhakti arises in humans without or without varṇāśrama by association with pure devotees, by good fortune. It does not arise from varṇāśrama or other processes. You have said: yaṁ na yogena sāṅkhyena dāna-vrata-tapo-’dhvaraiḥ vyākhyā-svādhyāya-sannyāsaiḥ prāpnuyād yatnavān api I cannot be attained by intense efforts of yoga, Sāṅkhya, charity, vows, austerity, sacrifices, explaining the Vedas, study of the Vedas, or sannyāsa. SB 11.12.9 When persons practicing varṇāśrama contact pure bhakti by devotional association, they give up varṇāśrama and perform the dharma of bhakti. ājñāyaivaṁ guṇān doṣān mayādiṣṭān api svakān dharmān santyajya yaḥ sarvān māṁ bhajeta sa tu sattamaḥ A person who, understanding good and bad aspects of dharma as taught by me, gives up all his duties and simply worships me is the best of all. SB 11.1.1132 Mixed bhakti and secondary bhakti arise from one’s dharma and from association with persons with mixed bhakti or secondary bhakti. How mixed and secondary bhakti arise, you alone know. Bhaktiḥ in verse 2 refers to mixed and secondary bhakti.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Uddhava asks how all human beings can achieve devotional service, not just those in varṇāśrama. Inclusivity in the question already invites the Lord's expansive answer.
Reflection Questions
  • Where in my thinking have I limited devotion to certain qualified categories?
  • How might the Lord's actual answer widen my sense of who is welcome?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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