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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
11.2.2711.2.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Nimisince 11.2.28inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

श्रीविदेह उवाच

मन्ये भगवत: साक्षात् पार्षदान् वो मधुद्विष: ।

विष्णोर्भूतानि लोकानां पावनाय चरन्ति हि ॥ २८ ॥

śrī-videha uvāca

manye bhagavataḥ sākṣāt

pārṣadān vo madhu-dvisaḥ

viṣṇor bhūtāni lokānāṁ

pāvanāya caranti hi

Translation

King Videha said: I think that you must be direct associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is famous as the enemy of the demon Madhu. Indeed, the pure devotees of Lord Viṣṇu wander throughout the universe not for their personal, selfish interest, but to purify all the conditioned souls.

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.

Pure Devotees Travel to Help Others

  1. 1

    Nimi recognized the sages as direct associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Pure devotees travel not for selfish interests, but to purify conditioned souls.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s associates remain transcendental even while moving within the material world. They invite everyone to surrender to Lord Kṛṣṇa and return to an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.

  3. 3

    The associates of Lord Viṣṇu are as merciful as the Lord Himself. Without false prestige, they work to free conditioned souls from misfortune, even when people do not seek their help.

Key points from the purport
  • One may ask how such transcendental living beings as the associates of Lord Viṣṇu could be seen within the material world.
  • Therefore it is stated here, pāvanāya caranti hi: the associates of Lord Viṣṇu travel throughout the universe to reclaim the fallen, conditioned souls on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Similarly, the devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead called parivrājakācāryas wander throughout the universe inviting everyone to surrender to Lord Kṛṣṇa and go back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.2.28 quotesBG 7.13

It is well known that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is transcendental to the three modes of material nature, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.13): mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

They were direct associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Madhusūdana, and wandered freely to give protection to the various planets in the universe. The human body can be lost at any moment, but it is still a very rare attainment.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-videhaḥ uvācaKing Videha said
  2. manyeI consider
  3. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Lord
  4. sākṣātdirectly
  5. pārṣadānpersonal associates
  6. vaḥyou
  7. madhu-dviṣaḥof the enemy of Madhu
  8. visṇoḥof Lord Viṣṇu
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”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “purify”

  • 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 can I make my efforts to help others less selfish and more merciful?

Practice

Share one teaching from this verse with someone willing to hear, without seeking praise or recognition.

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 todayPure Devotees Travel to Help OthersThis 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 11.2.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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