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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
11.2.1811.2.20-21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.19

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

तेषां नव नवद्वीपपतयोऽस्य समन्तत: ।

कर्मतन्त्रप्रणेतार एकाशीतिर्द्विजातय: ॥ १९ ॥

teṣāṁ nava nava-dvīpa-

patayo ’sya samantataḥ

karma-tantra-praṇetāra

ekāśītir dvijātayaḥ

Translation

Nine of the remaining sons of Ṛṣabhadeva became the rulers of the nine islands of Bhārata-varṣa, and they exercised complete sovereignty over this planet. Eighty-one sons became twice-born brāhmaṇas and helped initiate the Vedic path of fruitive sacrifices [karma-kāṇḍa].

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.

Ṛṣabhadeva’s Sons Become Rulers and Brāhmaṇas

  1. 1

    Nine of Ṛṣabhadeva’s remaining sons ruled the nine islands of Bhārata-varṣa and exercised complete sovereignty over this planet.

  2. 2

    The purport identifies these islands as the nine varṣas of Jambudvīpa: Bhārata, Kinnara, Hari, Kuru, Hiraṇmaya, Ramyaka, Ilāvṛta, Bhadrāśva and Ketumāla.

  3. 3

    Eighty-one sons became twice-born brāhmaṇas. They helped initiate karma-kāṇḍa, the Vedic path of fruitive sacrifices.

Key points from the purport
  • The nine dvīpas, or islands, ruled by nine sons of Ṛṣabhadeva are the nine varṣas of Jambudvīpa, namely Bhārata, Kinnara, Hari, Kuru, Hiraṇmaya, Ramyaka, Ilāvṛta, Bhadrāśva and Ketumāla.

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:

His other eighty-one sons became brāhmaṇas expert in smṛti doctrines who propagated the path of fruitive sacrifice. The nine Yogendras, free to move without impediment, traveled everywhere as they wished.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. teṣāmof them (the one hundred sons of Ṛṣabhadeva)
  2. navanine
  3. nava-dvīpaof the nine islands (comprising Bhārata-varṣa)
  4. patayaḥthe masters
  5. asyaof this varṣa
  6. samantataḥcovering it entirely
  7. karma-tantraof the path of fruitive Vedic sacrifices
  8. praṇetāraḥinitiators
  9. ekāśītiḥeighty-one
  10. dvi-jātayaḥtwice-born brāhmaṇas.
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 11.2

    In this verse: “rulers”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I distinguish the two roles described for Ṛṣabhadeva’s sons here?

Practice

Make two brief study notes: nine sons became rulers; eighty-one became brāhmaṇas who helped initiate Vedic fruitive sacrifices.

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’s Sons Become Rulers and BrāhmaṇasThis 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 11.2.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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