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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
11.2.2411.2.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.25

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

तान् द‍ृष्ट्वा सूर्यसङ्काशान् महाभागवतान् नृप ।

यजमानोऽग्नयो विप्रा: सर्व एवोपतस्थिरे ॥ २५ ॥

tān dṛṣṭvā sūrya-saṅkāśān

mahā-bhāgavatān nṛpa

yajamāno ’gnayo viprāḥ

sarva evopatasthire

Translation

My dear King, seeing those pure devotees of the Lord, who rival the sun in brilliance, everyone present — the performer of the sacrifice, the brāhmaṇas and even the sacrificial fires — stood in respect.

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.

Honor the Lord’s Pure Devotees

  1. 1

    The arriving sages were pure devotees of the Lord. Their brilliance rivaled the sun.

  2. 2

    The performer of the sacrifice and the brāhmaṇas stood in respect when they saw the devotees.

  3. 3

    Even the sacrificial fires stood in respect. The translation emphasizes that everyone present honored these pure devotees.

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. tānthem
  2. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  3. sūryathe sun
  4. saṅkāśānwho rivaled in brilliance
  5. mahā-bhāgavatānthe pure devotees of the Lord
  6. nṛpaO King (Vasudeva)
  7. yajamānaḥthe performer of the sacrifice (Nimi Mahārāja)
  8. agnayaḥthe fires
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • 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

How do I express respect when I meet someone devoted to the Lord?

Practice

Offer a respectful greeting to a devotee today, remembering the honor shown to these sages.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor the Lord’s Pure DevoteesThis 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 11.2.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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