FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.29.10

देशान् पुण्यानाश्रयेत मद्भ‍क्तै: साधुभि: श्रितान् । देवासुरमनुष्येषु मद्भ‍क्ताचरितानि च ॥ १० ॥
deśān puṇyān āśrayeta
[deshaan punyaan aashrayeta]
mad-bhaktaiḥ sādhubhiḥ śritān
[mad-bhaktaih saadhubhih shritaan]
devāsura-manuṣyeṣu
[devaasura-manushyeshu]
mad-bhaktācaritāni ca
[mad-bhaktaacharitaani cha]
deśān — places puṇyān — sacred āśrayeta — he should take shelter of mat-bhaktaiḥ — by My devotees sādhubhiḥ — saintly śritān — resorted to deva — among the demigods asura — demons manuṣyeṣu — and human beings mat-bhakta — of My devotees ācaritāni — the activities ca — and.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
deśān puṇyān āśrayeta
deśān
places
puṇyān
sacred
āśrayeta
he should take shelter of
mad-bhaktaiḥ sādhubhiḥ śritān
mat-bhaktaiḥ
by My devotees
sādhubhiḥ
saintly
śritān
resorted to
devāsura-manuṣyeṣu
deva
among the demigods
asura
demons
manuṣyeṣu
and human beings
mad-bhaktācaritāni ca
mat-bhakta
of My devotees
ācaritāni
the activities
ca
and.
One should take shelter of holy places where My saintly devotees reside, and one should be guided by the exemplary activities of My devotees, who appear among the demigods, demons and human beings.

Nārada Muni is one of the great devotees of the Lord who appeared among the demigods. Prahlāda Mahārāja appeared among the demons, and many other great devotees, such as Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and the Pāṇḍavas, appeared among human beings. One should take shelter of the devotees’ exemplary activities and also the holy places where devotees reside. Thus one will remain safe on the path of devotional service.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
One should take shelter of holy places where my saintly devotees reside, and one should be guided by the exemplary activities of my devotees, who appear among the devatās, demons and human beings. In pure bhakti, the methods of vaidhi and rāgānuga are indicated by giving two interpretations. One should live in places like Dvārakā. One should follow after the activities of devotees among the devatās (Nārada), among the demons (Prahlāda) and among humans (Ambarīṣa). This indicates vaidhi-bhakti. One should live in Gokula, Vṛndāvana or Govardhana, and follow after the activities of Candrakānti, Vṛndā and the gopīs. [Note: Candrakānti was the daughter of a Gandharva. Vṛṇda’s was the wife of a demon named Jalandhara in one pastime on earth. Perhaps this is the connection of Vṛnda with the demons. ] This indicates rāgānuga-bhakti.
Take shelter of holy places where His saintly devotees reside; be guided by the exemplary activities of devotees among demigods, demons, humans. Devotee company is named as the central support.
Reflection Questions
  • What holy place — physical or virtual — could I more often inhabit?
  • Whose exemplary activities am I patterning my life on?
📝 My note

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