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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 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System
11.17.4411.17.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.45

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.17.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

सर्वा: समुद्धरेद् राजा पितेव व्यसनात् प्रजा: ।

आत्मानमात्मना धीरो यथा गजपतिर्गजान् ॥ ४५ ॥

sarvāḥ samuddhared rājā

piteva vyasanāt prajāḥ

ātmānam ātmanā dhīro

yathā gaja-patir gajān

Translation

Just as the chief bull elephant protects all other elephants in his herd and defends himself as well, similarly, a fearless king, just like a father, must save all of the citizens from difficulty and also protect himself.

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.

Protect Others With Fearless Care

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa describes protecting all citizens from difficulty as an essential duty of a king.

  2. 2

    The king should act fearlessly, caring for the citizens as a father cares for his children.

  3. 3

    Like the chief bull elephant protecting his herd, the king must protect both others and himself.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa, having concluded His discussion of brahminical duties, now describes the character and activities of a king.
  • Protecting all of the citizens from difficulty is an essential duty for the king.

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 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

If a brāhmaṇa considers that his consciousness is contaminated by engaging in these occupations, he may sustain his existence by collecting grains from the fields. If he is disturbed by poverty, the brāhmaṇa may out of necessity accept the business of a kṣatriya or vaiśya, but he should never take the occupation of a śūdra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sarvāḥall
  2. samuddharetmust uplift
  3. rājāthe king
  4. pitāa father
  5. ivalike
  6. vyasanātfrom difficulties
  7. prajāḥthe citizens
  8. ātmānamhimself
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “fearless”, “fearlessly”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “father”, “children”

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

Who depends on my care, and what difficulty can I help them face?

Practice

Help one person under your care with a specific difficulty today.

Live this todayProtect Others With Fearless CareThis 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 11.17.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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