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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 10: The Nature of Fruitive Activity
11.10.27-2911.10.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.10.30

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.10.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

लोकानां लोकपालानां मद्भ‍यं कल्पजीविनाम् ।

ब्रह्मणोऽपि भयं मत्तो द्विपरार्धपरायुष: ॥ ३० ॥

lokānāṁ loka-pālānāṁ

mad bhayaṁ kalpa-jīvinām

brahmaṇo ’pi bhayaṁ matto

dvi-parārdha-parāyuṣaḥ

Translation

In all the planetary systems, from the heavenly to the hellish, and for all of the great demigods who live for one thousand yuga cycles, there is fear of Me in My form of time. Even Brahmā, who possesses the supreme life span of 311,040,000,000,000 years, is also afraid of Me.

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.

Lord Kṛṣṇa Is the Only Real Shelter

  1. 1

    Even the great demigods fear the time potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Brahmā’s immense life span does not free him from this fear.

  2. 2

    Even in the heavenly planets there is no relief from the miseries of material life. No conditioned soul can live eternally.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth and eternally the supreme controller of everything and everyone. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the only real shelter.

Key points from the purport
  • There are many statements throughout Vedic literature proving that even the great demigods fear the time potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Even in the heavenly planets there is no relief from the miseries of material life.
  • Since even the demigods fear the time potency of the Personality of Godhead, one may easily conclude that Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth and that He is eternally the supreme controller of everything and everyone.

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

Uncertainty → Clarity. The coming separation makes the instruction personally urgent.

Chapters 10–20 of Canto 11: Kṛṣṇa's teachings on self, yoga and wisdom. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In this way there is no possibility that one who is attached to the fruits of his material work can achieve any substantial goal in life. The pleasures of heaven and other destinations, which are achieved by sacrificial rituals, can be experienced for only a short time.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. lokānāmin all the planetary systems
  2. loka-pālānāmand for all the planetary leaders, such as the demigods
  3. matof Me
  4. bhayamthere is fear
  5. kalpa-jīvināmfor those who live for a kalpa, or a day of Brahmā
  6. brahmaṇaḥof Lord Brahmā
  7. apieven
  8. bhayamthere is fear
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “fear”, “afraid”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “material”

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

Where am I seeking lasting security in something that time will take away?

Practice

Take one quiet minute today to remember that even the longest material life ends, and turn to Lord Kṛṣṇa as your shelter.

5

Connected stories

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

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.10's connections

Live this todayLord Kṛṣṇa Is the Only Real ShelterThis 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 11.10.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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