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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
11.16.2811.16.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.29

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

वासुदेवो भगवतां त्वं तु भागवतेष्वहम् ।

किम्पुरुषाणां हनुमान् विद्याध्राणां सुदर्शन: ॥ २९ ॥

vāsudevo bhagavatāṁ

tvaṁ tu bhāgavateṣv aham

kimpuruṣānāṁ hanumān

vidyādhrāṇāṁ sudarśanaḥ

Translation

Among those entitled to the name Bhagavān I am Vāsudeva, and indeed, you, Uddhava, represent Me among the devotees. I am Hanumān among the Kimpuruṣas, and among the Vidyādharas I am Sudarśana.

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.

Bhagavān Is Ultimately One Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Bhagavān possesses perfect knowledge of the creation and destruction of all entities and is completely omniscient. Though many great personalities receive this title, ultimately there is only one Supreme Lord with unlimited opulences.

  2. 2

    Vāsudeva is the first manifestation of the Lord’s quadruple expansion. Here He represents all the Lord’s expansions in the viṣṇu-tattva category.

  3. 3

    The Lord identifies Uddhava as His representation among devotees, Hanumān among the Kimpuruṣas, and Sudarśana among the Vidyādharas.

Key points from the purport
  • The Vedic literatures state that one who possesses perfect knowledge of the creation and destruction of all entities and who is completely situated in omniscience is to be known as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān.
  • Although many great personalities are sometimes called Bhagavān, ultimately Bhagavān is the one supreme entity who possesses unlimited opulences.
  • Throughout history, many important personalities have been addressed as “lord,” but ultimately there is only one Supreme Lord.

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:

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. vāsudevaḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. bhagavatāmof those entitled to the name Bhagavān
  3. tvamyou
  4. tuindeed
  5. bhāgavateṣuamong My devotees
  6. ahamI am
  7. kimpuruṣāṇāmamong the Kimpuruṣas
  8. hanumānHanumān
  9. vidyādhrāṇāmamong the Vidyādharas
  10. sudarśanaḥSudarśana
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 knowing there is one Supreme Lord help focus my devotion?

Practice

Take a quiet moment to remember Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and renew your intention to serve Him devotionally.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.16's connections

Live this todayBhagavān Is Ultimately One Supreme LordThis 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 11.16.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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