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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 16: The Lord’s Opulence
11.16.1911.16.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.20

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

तीर्थानां स्रोतसां गङ्गा समुद्र: सरसामहम् ।

आयुधानां धनुरहं त्रिपुरघ्नो धनुष्मताम् ॥ २० ॥

tīrthānāṁ srotasāṁ gaṅgā

samudraḥ sarasām aham

āyudhānāṁ dhanur ahaṁ

tripura-ghno dhanuṣmatām

Translation

Among sacred and flowing things I am the holy Ganges, and among steady bodies of water I am the ocean. Among weapons I am the bow, and of the wielders of weapons I am Lord Śiva.

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.

The Lord in Sacred Waters and Weapons

  1. 1

    Among sacred and flowing things, the Lord is the holy Ganges. Among steady bodies of water, He is the ocean.

  2. 2

    Among weapons, He is the bow. Among those who wield weapons, He is Lord Śiva.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that Lord Śiva used his bow to completely cover with arrows the three demoniac cities built by Maya Dānava.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva used his bow to completely cover with arrows the three demoniac cities built by Maya Dānava.

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. tirthānāmamong holy places
  2. srotasāmamong flowing things
  3. gaṅgāthe sacred Ganges
  4. samudraḥthe ocean
  5. sarasāmamong steady bodies of water
  6. ahamI am
  7. āyudhānāmamong weapons
  8. dhanuḥthe bow
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “maya”

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 I keep my attention on the Lord while studying these different manifestations of His opulence?

Practice

Spend one minute recalling the Ganges, the ocean, the bow and Lord Śiva as the examples the Lord gives here.

Live this todayThe Lord in Sacred Waters and WeaponsThis 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 11.16.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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