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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
11.16.411.16.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.16.5

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.16.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

या: काश्च भूमौ दिवि वै रसायां

विभूतयो दिक्षु महाविभूते ।

ता मह्यमाख्याह्यनुभावितास्ते

नमामि ते तीर्थपदाङ्‍‍घ्रिपद्मम् ॥ ५ ॥

yāḥ kāś ca bhūmau divi vai rasāyāṁ

vibhūtayo dikṣu mahā-vibhūte

tā mahyam ākhyāhy anubhāvitās te

namāmi te tīrtha-padāṅghri-padmam

Translation

O supremely potent Lord, please explain to me Your innumerable potencies, which You manifest on the earth, in heaven, in hell and indeed in all directions. I offer my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet, which are the shelter of all holy places.

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.

All Opulence Rests Upon the Lord

  1. 1

    Uddhava asks the Lord to explain His material and spiritual potencies manifested throughout the universe.

  2. 2

    Materialists cannot appreciate the mighty opulences of the Personality of Godhead. For ordinary people’s benefit, Uddhava asks how and in what forms the Lord manifests His potencies.

  3. 3

    Every mighty or opulent manifestation ultimately rests on the Lord. Uddhava humbly bows at His lotus feet, the shelter of all holy places.

Key points from the purport
  • Uddhava here inquires about the Lord’s material and spiritual potencies, as manifested within our universe.
  • For the appreciation of ordinary human beings Uddhava requests the Lord to reveal exactly how and in what forms He expands His potencies.
  • As already explained, the Lord is the essential ingredient of all that exists, and thus any mighty or opulent manifestation must ultimately rest on the Lord Himself.

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. yāḥ kāḥwhatever
  2. caalso
  3. bhūmauon the earth
  4. diviin heaven
  5. vaiindeed
  6. rasāyāmin hell
  7. vibhūtayaḥpotencies
  8. dikṣuin all directions
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

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “humble”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.16

    In this verse: “material”

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

What impressive thing around you could remind you of the Lord’s supporting power?

Practice

Notice one powerful or beautiful manifestation today and offer a brief prayer acknowledging that it rests on the Lord.

Live this todayAll Opulence Rests Upon 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 11.16.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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