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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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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 16: The Lord’s Opulence
11.16.1611.16.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.17

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.16.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां यादसां वरुणं प्रभुम् ।

तपतां द्युमतां सूर्यं मनुष्याणां च भूपतिम् ॥ १७ ॥

airāvataṁ gajendrāṇāṁ

yādasāṁ varuṇaṁ prabhum

tapatāṁ dyumatāṁ sūryaṁ

manuṣyāṇāṁ ca bhū-patim

Translation

I am Airāvata among lordly elephants, and among aquatics I am Varuṇa, the lord of the seas. Among all things that heat and illuminate I am the sun, and among human beings I am the king.

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 Is the Supreme Personality of Godhead

  1. 1

    The Lord is Airāvata among lordly elephants and Varuṇa among aquatics. He is the sun among things that heat and illuminate, and the king among human beings.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is represented within this universe by the lord or supreme in all categories.

  3. 3

    No one can be as aristocratic and perfect as Śrī Kṛṣṇa, nor can anyone estimate His glories. He is without doubt the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • It is significant to know that Lord Kṛṣṇa is represented within this universe by the lord or supreme in all categories.
  • No one can be as aristocratic and perfect as Śrī Kṛṣṇa, nor can anyone estimate the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa is without doubt the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 16: The Lord’s Opulence

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He is the soul of all beings, and by secretly taking up residence within all living bodies He sees everything. The conditioned souls, on the other hand, are bewildered by His external energy and thus are unable to see Him.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. airāvatamthe elephant Airāvata
  2. gaja-indrāṇāmamong lordly elephants
  3. yādasāmamong aquatics
  4. varuṇamVaruṇa
  5. prabhumthe lord of seas
  6. tapatāmamong things that heat
  7. dyu-matāmamong things that illuminate
  8. sūryamI am the sun
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.16

    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 can recognizing Kṛṣṇa’s unmatched greatness deepen my desire to serve Him?

Practice

When you notice sunlight today, pause to remember Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and renew your intention to serve Him.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Supreme Personality of GodheadThis 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 11.16.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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