1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 1: The Curse upon the Yadu Dynasty
11.1.811.1.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.1.9

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 11.1.9inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यन्निमित्त: स वै शापो याद‍ृशो द्विजसत्तम ।

कथमेकात्मनां भेद एतत् सर्वं वदस्व मे ॥ ९ ॥

yan-nimittaḥ sa vai śāpo

yādṛśo dvija-sattama

katham ekātmanāṁ bheda

etat sarvaṁ vadasva me

Translation

King Parīkṣit continued inquiring: What was the motive for this curse? What did it consist of, O purest of the twice-born? And how could such a disagreement have arisen among the Yadus, who all shared the same goal of life? Please tell me all these things.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Was Their Shared Goal

  1. 1

    The Yadus shared one conviction: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the goal of their life.

  2. 2

    Because they shared this goal, Parīkṣit Mahārāja could see no obvious reason for a destructive quarrel among them. He wanted to understand its actual cause.

  3. 3

    Parīkṣit asked what caused the curse, what it consisted of and how the disagreement arose. He respectfully requested a full explanation.

Key points from the purport
  • Ekātmanām means that the Yadus all shared the same opinion, namely that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the goal of their life.
  • Therefore, Parīkṣit Mahārāja could not see any obvious reason for such a destructive quarrel among the members of the Yadu dynasty, and he was anxious to know the actual cause.

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 1: The Curse upon the Yadu Dynasty

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Hurrying to the assembly of Ugrasena, the King of the Yadus, they offered a report of everything that had taken place. Fearing the brāhmaṇas’ curse, Yadurāja Ugrasena ordered the club ground to powder and thrown into the ocean.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yat-nimittaḥarising by what cause
  2. saḥthat
  3. vaiindeed
  4. śāpaḥcurse
  5. yādṛśaḥwhat kind
  6. dvija-sat-tamaO purest of twice-born brāhmaṇas
  7. kathamhow
  8. eka-ātmanāmof those who shared the same soul (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.1

    In this verse: “inquiring”, “understand”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.1

    In this verse: “king”

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

How clearly do I keep Kṛṣṇa as the goal of my life?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and remember that Kṛṣṇa is the goal.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Was Their Shared GoalThis 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 11.1.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories