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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.4

Who is speaking and story frame

गूढश्चरसि भूतात्मा भूतानां भूतभावन ।

न त्वां पश्यन्ति भूतानि पश्यन्तं मोहितानि ते ॥ ४ ॥

gūḍhaś carasi bhūtātmā

bhūtānāṁ bhūta-bhāvana

na tvāṁ paśyanti bhūtāni

paśyantaṁ mohitāni te

Translation

O my Lord, maintainer of all, although You are the Supersoul of the living entities, You remain hidden. Thus being bewildered by You, the living entities cannot see You, although You are seeing them.

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 Hidden Lord Sees Us

  1. 1

    The Lord exists as the Supersoul within everything. Although bewildered living entities cannot see Him, He sees them.

  2. 2

    Nondevotees mistakenly treat Kṛṣṇa, the supreme enjoyer, as someone meant to satisfy their senses. They seek material favors and regard His creation as their own property.

  3. 3

    The Supersoul is the only actual controller in the material world. Ignorant persons fail to recognize Him even when He appears in various incarnations.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord exists as the Supersoul within everything.
  • Within the universe everything is subject to creation, maintenance and destruction, and thus the Supersoul is the only actual controller in the material world.
  • As stated in this verse, they cannot see that person who is actually seeing them, and simply remain bewildered.

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 cause of the birth, maintenance and destruction of all living entities. He is the soul of all beings, and by secretly taking up residence within all living bodies He sees everything.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gūḍhaḥhidden
  2. carasiYou are engaged
  3. bhūta-ātmāthe Supersoul
  4. bhūtānāmof the living entities
  5. bhūta-bhāvanaO maintainer of all living beings
  6. nanot
  7. tvāmYou
  8. paśyantithey see
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: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “favors”

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

Do you approach Kṛṣṇa mainly for material favors, or with a desire to serve Him?

Practice

Offer one brief prayer asking to serve Kṛṣṇa rather than asking for a material benefit.

Live this todayThe Hidden Lord Sees UsThis 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 11.16.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.