1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
11.16.3911.16.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.40

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

तेज: श्री: कीर्तिरैश्वर्यं ह्रीस्त्याग: सौभगं भग: ।

वीर्यं तितिक्षा विज्ञानं यत्र यत्र स मेंऽशक: ॥ ४० ॥

tejaḥ śrīḥ kīrtir aiśvaryaṁ

hrīs tyāgaḥ saubhagaṁ bhagaḥ

vīryaṁ titikṣā vijñānaṁ

yatra yatra sa me ’ṁśakaḥ

Translation

Whatever power, beauty, fame, opulence, humility, renunciation, mental pleasure, fortune, strength, tolerance or spiritual knowledge there may be is simply an expansion of My opulence.

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.

Every Excellence Expands from the Lord

  1. 1

    Although His opulences are innumerable, the Lord gives a specific summary of them here.

  2. 2

    Whatever power, beauty, fame, opulence, mental pleasure, fortune or strength exists is an expansion of His opulence.

  3. 3

    Humility, renunciation, tolerance and spiritual knowledge are also expansions of His opulence.

Key points from the purport
  • Although the Lord stated in the previous verse that His opulences are innumerable, the Lord here gives a specific resume and demonstration of His opulences.

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:

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. tejaḥpower
  2. śrīḥbeautiful, valuable things
  3. kīrtiḥfame
  4. aiśvaryamopulence
  5. hrīḥhumility
  6. tyāgaḥrenunciation
  7. saubhagamthat which pleases the mind and senses
  8. bhagaḥgood fortune
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “humility”

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

Which quality do I admire, and do I remember its connection with the Lord?

Practice

Notice one example of beauty, humility or tolerance today and remember it as an expansion of the Lord’s opulence.

Live this todayEvery Excellence Expands from the 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 11.16.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories