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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
11.16.2711.16.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.28

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

अहं युगानां च कृतं धीराणां देवलोऽसित: ।

द्वैपायनोऽस्मि व्यासानां कवीनां काव्य आत्मवान् ॥ २८ ॥

ahaṁ yugānāṁ ca kṛtaṁ

dhīrāṇāṁ devalo ’sitaḥ

dvaipāyano ’smi vyāsānāṁ

kavīnāṁ kāvya ātmavān

Translation

Among ages I am the Satya-yuga, the age of truth, and among steady sages I am Devala and Asita. Among those who have divided the Vedas I am Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa, and among learned scholars I am Śukrācārya, the knower of spiritual science.

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 in Truth and Spiritual Learning

  1. 1

    Among ages, the Lord identifies Himself with Satya-yuga, the age of truth.

  2. 2

    Among steady sages, the Lord identifies Himself with Devala and Asita.

  3. 3

    Among those who divided the Vedas, the Lord identifies Himself with Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa. Among learned scholars, He identifies Himself with Śukrācārya, the knower of spiritual science.

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:

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. It therefore cannot be truthfully said that a material object actually possesses these opulences.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahamI am
  2. yugānāmamong ages
  3. caalso
  4. kṛtamSatya-yuga
  5. dhīrāṇāmamong steady sages
  6. devalaḥDevala
  7. asitaḥAsita
  8. dvaipāyanaḥKṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana
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 value learning about spiritual science?

Practice

Spend a few quiet minutes reviewing this verse as an attentive exercise in spiritual learning.

Live this todayThe Lord in Truth and Spiritual LearningThis 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 11.16.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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