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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

11.16.17 11.16.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.18

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

उच्चै:श्रवास्तुरङ्गाणां धातूनामस्मि काञ्चनम् ।

यम: संयमतां चाहम् सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकि: ॥ १८ ॥

uccaiḥśravās turaṅgāṇāṁ

dhātūnām asmi kāñcanam

yamaḥ saṁyamatāṁ cāham

sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ

Translation

Among horses I am Uccaiḥśravā, and I am gold among metals. I am Yamarāja among those who suppress and punish, and among serpents I am Vāsuki.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord in Excellence and Restraint

1
Among horses, the Lord is Uccaiḥśravā.
2
Among metals, He is gold.
3
Among those who suppress and punish, He is Yamarāja. Among serpents, He is Vāsuki.

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

Chapter 16: The Lord’s Opulence

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The conditioned souls, on the other hand, are bewildered by His external energy and thus are unable to see Him.” After offering such prayers at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Uddhava revealed his desire to know about the Lord’s various opulences in heaven, on earth, in hell and in all directions.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.16

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

uccaiḥśravāḥthe horse Uccaiḥśravā
turaṅgāṇāmamong horses
dhātūnāmamong metals
asmiI am
kāñcanamgold
yamaḥYamarāja
saṁyamatāmamong those who punish and suppress
caalso

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

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which example in this verse most readily helps me remember the Lord?

Practice

Copy one statement from the verse and read it again later today as a reminder of the Lord.

Live this todayThe Lord in Excellence and RestraintThis 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.

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