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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
11.2.1911.2.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.2.20-21

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

नवाभवन् महाभागा मुनयो ह्यर्थशंसिन: ।

श्रमणा वातरसना आत्मविद्याविशारदा: ॥ २० ॥

कविर्हविरन्तरीक्ष: प्रबुद्ध: पिप्पलायन: ।

आविर्होत्रोऽथ द्रुमिलश्चमस: करभाजन: ॥ २१ ॥

navābhavan mahā-bhāgā

munayo hy artha-śaṁsinaḥ

śramaṇā vāta-rasanā

ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ

kavir havir antarīkṣaḥ

prabuddhaḥ pippalāyanaḥ

āvirhotro ’tha drumilaś

camasaḥ karabhājanaḥ

Translation

The nine remaining sons of Ṛṣabha were greatly fortunate sages who worked vigorously to spread knowledge of the Absolute Truth. They wandered about naked and were very well versed in spiritual science. Their names were Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana.

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.

Spiritual Knowledge Shared With Great Effort

  1. 1

    The nine remaining sons of Ṛṣabha were greatly fortunate sages, well versed in spiritual science. They worked vigorously to spread knowledge of the Absolute Truth.

  2. 2

    King Nimi asked them about the highest good, the qualities of a devotee, and the Lord’s external energy. His inquiries also concerned freedom from māyā, Brahman, and different kinds of karma.

  3. 3

    His questions included the Lord’s incarnations, their worship, and the destination of those devoid of bhakti. The nine great devotees answered his nine questions, each in turn.

Key points from the purport
  • Nimi, the King of Videha, asked the following nine questions of the nine Yogendras, the saintly sons of Ṛṣabha.
  • The transcendental answers to these inquiries were given by the great devotees Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana.
  • These nine paramahaṁsas answered the nine questions, each in turn, in the following verses: (1) 2.33-43; (2) 2.45-55; (3) 3.3-16; (4) 3.18-33; (5) 3.35-40; (6) 3.43-55; (7) 4.2-23; (8) 5.2-18; and (9) 5.20-42.

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 were widely known as the nava-yogendras: Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana. They were well versed in knowledge of the self, fixed in their goal and always striving for perfection.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. navanine
  2. abhavanthere were
  3. mahā-bhāgāḥgreatly fortunate souls
  4. munayaḥsages
  5. hiindeed
  6. artha-śaṁsinaḥengaged in explaining the Absolute Truth
  7. śramaṇāḥthus exerting great endeavor
  8. vāta-rasanāḥdressed by the wind (naked)
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “absolute truth”, “inquiries”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”, “bhakti”, “worship”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which of King Nimi’s subjects would you most like to understand more deeply?

Practice

Write down one sincere question about devotional life that you would like to study.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Knowledge Shared With Great EffortThis 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 11.2.20-21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.