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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
11.2.1711.2.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.18

Mukti· Liberation
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

स भुक्तभोगां त्यक्त्वेमां निर्गतस्तपसा हरिम् ।

उपासीनस्तत्पदवीं लेभे वै जन्मभिस्त्रिभि: ॥ १८ ॥

sa bhukta-bhogāṁ tyaktvemāṁ

nirgatas tapasā harim

upāsīnas tat-padavīṁ

lebhe vai janmabhis tribhiḥ

Translation

King Bharata rejected this material world, considering all types of material pleasure temporary and useless. Leaving his beautiful young wife and family, he worshiped Lord Hari by severe austerities and attained the abode of the Lord after three lifetimes.

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.

Beyond Temporary Pleasure to the Lord’s Abode

  1. 1

    King Bharata considered all kinds of material pleasure temporary and useless. He rejected worldly life, leaving his beautiful young wife and family.

  2. 2

    He worshiped Lord Hari through severe austerities and attained the Lord’s abode after three lifetimes.

  3. 3

    Those three lives were as a king, as a deer, and as an exalted paramahaṁsa devotee of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The complete narration of the three lives of Bharata — as a king, as a deer and as an exalted paramahaṁsa devotee of the Lord — is given in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

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

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:

Nine other sons of Ṛṣabhadeva took on the duty of kṣatriyas and became masters of the nine dvīpas comprising Bhārata-varṣa. His other eighty-one sons became brāhmaṇas expert in smṛti doctrines who propagated the path of fruitive sacrifice.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe
  2. bhuktaused up
  3. bhogāmall the pleasures
  4. tyaktvārejecting
  5. imāmof this (earth)
  6. nirgataḥhaving left home
  7. tapasāby austerities
  8. harimthe Supreme Lord, Hari
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which temporary pleasure most distracts me from worshiping the Lord?

Practice

Set aside one optional material pleasure today and use that time to worship Lord Hari.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBeyond Temporary Pleasure to the Lord’s AbodeThis 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 11.2.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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