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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
11.2.711.2.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.8

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vasudevasince 11.2.4inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Vasudeva

अहं किल पुरानन्तं प्रजार्थो भुवि मुक्तिदम् ।

अपूजयं न मोक्षाय मोहितो देवमायया ॥ ८ ॥

ahaṁ kila purānantaṁ

prajārtho bhuvi mukti-dam

apūjayaṁ na mokṣāya

mohito deva-māyayā

Translation

In a previous birth on this earth, I worshiped the Supreme Lord, Ananta, who alone can award liberation, but because I desired to have a child, I did not worship Him for liberation. Thus I was bewildered by the Lord’s illusory energy.

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.

Learn to Love Kṛṣṇa and Return Home

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord alone can free the conditioned soul from birth and death and award eternal life of bliss and knowledge. Vasudeva lamented that he had desired Kṛṣṇa as his son rather than seeking to return to Him.

  2. 2

    Vasudeva and Devakī are eternally loving, pure devotees, not seekers of ordinary material rewards. The Lord’s internal potency led them to desire Kṛṣṇa Himself as their son, preparing for His appearance.

  3. 3

    Rather than trying to bring the Lord here for a material purpose, we should learn to love Him and engage in His service. Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra gradually develops our eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Vasudeva lamented that he had desired Kṛṣṇa to come to him as a son instead of desiring to go back to Kṛṣṇa, back to Godhead, to serve the Lord in the spiritual sky.
  • Commenting on this incident in the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śrīla Prabhupāda has emphasized that we should desire to go back home, back to Godhead, rather than try to bring the Lord to this world as our son.
  • Vasudeva and Devakī, however, did want the Lord Himself, and therefore they were pure devotees of the Lord.

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· 3

The purport of SB 11.2.8 quotesSB 10.3.37-38

We should take advantage of this benediction and go back home, back to Godhead.”

The purport of SB 11.2.8 quotesSB 10.3.39

As stated by the Lord Himself, mohitau devamāyayā: Vasudeva and Devakī, His pure devotees, were covered by His internal potency.

The purport of SB 11.2.8 quotesSB 4.1.20

In the Fourth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.1.20) the great sage Atri Muni prayed to the Lord, prajām ātma-samāṁ mahyaṁ prayacchatu: “Kindly be pleased to offer me a son exactly like You.”

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:

Vasudeva, bewildered by the Lord’s illusory potency, had previously offered worship to the Supreme Lord Ananta for the purpose of getting a son, but had failed to worship Him for liberation. Once Nārada arrived at the home of Vasudeva, who worshiped him according to proper etiquette, greeted him respectfully and requested to hear about pure devotional service, which frees one from all kinds of fear.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahamI
  2. kilaindeed
  3. purālong ago
  4. anantamthe Supreme Lord, who is unlimited
  5. prajā-arthaḥwanting a child
  6. bhuvion the earth
  7. mukti-damthe Lord, who awards liberation
  8. apūjayamI worshiped
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “devotees”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “child”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “lamented”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do my prayers seek a material result, or a deeper loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today with the intention of developing love for Kṛṣṇa and serving Him.

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.

The purport quotesSB 10.3.38SB 10.3.39SB 4.1.20

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.2's connections

Live this todayLearn to Love Kṛṣṇa and Return HomeThis 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 11.2.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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