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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 19: The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge
11.19.1111.19.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.19.12

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.19.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

निवृत्ते भारते युद्धे सुहृन्निधनविह्वल: ।

श्रुत्वा धर्मान् बहून् पश्चान्मोक्षधर्मानपृच्छत ॥ १२ ॥

nivṛtte bhārate yuddhe

suhṛn-nidhana-vihvalaḥ

śrutvā dharmān bahūn paścān

mokṣa-dharmān apṛcchata

Translation

When the great Battle of Kurukṣetra had ended, King Yudhiṣṭhira was overwhelmed by the death of many beloved well-wishers, and thus, after listening to instructions about many religious principles, he finally inquired about the path of liberation.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Seek Liberation Amid Life’s Sorrows

  1. 1

    After the Battle of Kurukṣetra, King Yudhiṣṭhira was overwhelmed by the deaths of many beloved well-wishers.

  2. 2

    He listened to instructions about many religious principles while facing this sorrow.

  3. 3

    Finally, he inquired about the path of liberation. His inquiry moved toward freedom from material existence.

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 19: The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After this, Lord Kṛṣṇa, requested by Śrī Uddhava to describe in full detail pure transcendental knowledge and devotional service, related the same instructions that the greatest of Vaiṣṇavas, Bhīṣmadeva, gave on these topics to Śrī Yudhiṣṭhira on the occasion of the battle at Kurukṣetra. Following this, after being asked about yama and the other practices of yoga, the Lord enumerated the twelve kinds of yama beginning with nonviolence, and the twelve kinds of niyama, beginning with bodily cleanliness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nivṛttewhen it ended
  2. bhārateof the descendants of Bhārata (the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas)
  3. yuddhethe war
  4. suhṛtof his beloved well-wishers
  5. nidhanaby the destruction
  6. vihvalaḥoverwhelmed
  7. śrutvāhaving heard
  8. dharmānreligious principles
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.19

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.19

    In this verse: “death”, “deaths”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.19

    In this verse: “inquired”

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 might awareness of loss deepen my interest in the path of liberation?

Practice

Write one sincere question you have about liberation, following Yudhiṣṭhira’s example of inquiry.

Live this todaySeek Liberation Amid Life’s SorrowsThis 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 11.19.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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