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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 2: Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras
11.2.1511.2.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 11.2.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Vasudeva

तमाहुर्वासुदेवांशं मोक्षधर्मविवक्षया ।

अवतीर्णं सुतशतं तस्यासीद् ब्रह्मपारगम् ॥ १६ ॥

tam āhur vāsudevāṁśaṁ

mokṣa-dharma-vivakṣayā

avatīrṇaṁ suta-śataṁ

tasyāsīd brahma-pāragam

Translation

Śrī Ṛṣabhadeva is accepted as an expansion of the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva. He incarnated in this world to propagate those religious principles that lead living entities to ultimate liberation. He had one hundred sons, all perfect in Vedic knowledge.

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.

Ṛṣabhadeva Appears to Teach Liberation

  1. 1

    Śrī Ṛṣabhadeva is accepted as an expansion of the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva.

  2. 2

    He appeared in this world to teach religious principles that lead living entities to ultimate liberation.

  3. 3

    He had one hundred sons, all of whom were perfect in Vedic knowledge.

How it feels

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The oldest of Ṛṣabhadeva’s one hundred sons was Bharata, an exalted devotee of Nārāyaṇa by whose name this earth, previously called Ajanābha-varṣa, became famous as Bhārata-varṣa. Nine other sons of Ṛṣabhadeva were widely known as the nava-yogendras: Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamHim
  2. āhuḥthey call
  3. vāsudeva-aṁśama plenary expansion of the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva
  4. mokṣa-dharmathe process of attaining liberation
  5. vivakṣayāwith the desire to teach
  6. avatīrṇamappeared in this world
  7. sutasons
  8. śatamone hundred
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Ṛṣabhadeva’s purpose in appearing teach me about the aim of religious life?

Practice

Write one sentence recalling who Ṛṣabhadeva is and why He appeared.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.2's connections

Live this todayṚṣabhadeva Appears to Teach LiberationThis 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 11.2.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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