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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
11.16.2111.16.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.22

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

पुरोधसां वसिष्ठोऽहं ब्रह्मिष्ठानां बृहस्पति: ।

स्कन्दोऽहं सर्वसेनान्यामग्रण्यां भगवानज: ॥ २२ ॥

purodhasāṁ vasiṣṭho ’haṁ

brahmiṣṭhānāṁ bṛhaspatiḥ

skando ’haṁ sarva-senānyām

agraṇyāṁ bhagavān ajaḥ

Translation

Among priests I am Vasiṣṭha Muni, and among those highly situated in Vedic culture I am Bṛhaspati. I am Kārtikeya among great military leaders, and among those advancing in superior ways of life I am the great personality Lord Brahmā.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Opulence in Distinguished Leaders

  1. 1

    The Lord identifies Himself with Vasiṣṭha Muni among priests and Bṛhaspati among those highly situated in Vedic culture.

  2. 2

    Among great military leaders, the Lord identifies Himself with Kārtikeya.

  3. 3

    Among those advancing in superior ways of life, the Lord identifies Himself with the great personality Lord Brahmā.

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:

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. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa then described all these opulences, after which He commented that all power, beauty, fame, opulence, humility, charity, charm, good fortune, valor, tolerance and wisdom — wherever they are manifest — are simply expansions from Himself.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. purodhasāmamong priests
  2. vasiṣṭhaḥVasiṣṭha Muni
  3. ahamI am
  4. brahmiṣṭhānāmamong those fixed in the Vedic conclusion and purpose
  5. bṛhaspatiḥBṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods
  6. skandaḥKārtikeya
  7. ahamI am
  8. sarva-senānyāmamong all military leaders
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

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 does this verse help me see distinguished abilities in relation to the Lord?

Practice

Choose one personality named here and reread how the Lord identifies Himself with that personality.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Opulence in Distinguished LeadersThis 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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