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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
11.2.5311.2.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.54

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Havirsince 11.2.45inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

भगवत उरुविक्रमाङ्‍‍घ्रिशाखा-

नखमणिचन्द्रिकया निरस्ततापे ।

हृदि कथमुपसीदतां पुन: स

प्रभवति चन्द्र इवोदितेऽर्कताप: ॥ ५४ ॥

bhagavata uru-vikramāṅghri-śākhā-

nakha-maṇi-candrikayā nirasta-tāpe

hṛdi katham upasīdatāṁ punaḥ sa

prabhavati candra ivodite ’rka-tāpaḥ

Translation

How can the fire of material suffering continue to burn the hearts of those who worship the Supreme Lord? The Lord’s lotus feet have performed innumerable heroic deeds, and the beautiful nails on His toes resemble valuable jewels. The effulgence emanating from those nails resembles cooling moonshine, for it instantly relieves the suffering within the heart of the pure devotee, just as the appearance of the moon’s cooling light relieves the burning heat of the sun.

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.

The Lord’s Lotus Feet Cool Material Suffering

  1. 1

    Material lust is like a blazing fire that burns away the conditioned soul’s peace and happiness. The soul struggles in vain to extinguish this fire while wandering through material existence.

  2. 2

    Pure devotees place the Lord’s cooling, jewellike lotus feet within their hearts. Their suffering is extinguished, just as cooling moonlight relieves the sun’s fierce heat.

  3. 3

    The lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, have performed great heroic deeds, and the entire material manifestation rests beneath them. Pure devotees find relief through worship of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, the cooling rays emanating from the lotus nails of the Personality of Godhead’s lotus feet vanquish all distress for the Lord’s pure devotee.
  • The pure devotees of the Lord place the Lord’s cooling, jewellike lotus feet within their hearts, and thus all of the pain and suffering of material existence are extinguished.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are so exalted that the Vedic literatures state that the entire material manifestation rests beneath His lotus feet: samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ mahat padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ (Bhāg. 10.14.58).

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 11.2.54 quotesSB 10.14.58

Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are so exalted that the Vedic literatures state that the entire material manifestation rests beneath His lotus feet: samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ mahat padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ.

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:

The first-class devotees are described in eight verses, which conclude by stating that the first-class devotee keeps the Supreme Lord perpetually fastened to his own heart with ropes of affection. Lord Hari never leaves the heart of such a devotee.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. uru-vikramawhich have performed great heroic deeds
  3. aṅghriof the lotus feet
  4. śākhāof the toes
  5. nakhaof the nails
  6. maṇiwhich are like jewels
  7. candrikayāby the moonshine
  8. nirasta-tāpewhen the pain has been removed
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “lust”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “suffering”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When material desires disturb my peace, how can I turn my attention toward the Lord’s lotus feet?

Practice

Take one quiet minute today to remember Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and the cooling, moonlike light of His beautiful toenails.

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 todayThe Lord’s Lotus Feet Cool Material SufferingThis 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 11.2.54? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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