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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 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path
11.21.38-4011.21.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.21.41

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.21.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टुप् च बृहती पङ्‌क्तिरेव च ।

त्रिष्टुब्जगत्यतिच्छन्दो ह्यत्यष्‍ट्यतिजगद् विराट् ॥ ४१ ॥

gāyatry uṣṇig anuṣṭup ca

bṛhatī paṅktir eva ca

triṣṭub jagaty aticchando

hy atyaṣṭy-atijagad-virāṭ

Translation

The Vedic meters are Gāyatrī, Uṣṇik, Anuṣṭup, Bṛhatī, Paṅkti, Triṣṭup, Jagatī, Aticchanda, Atyaṣṭi, Atijagatī and Ativirāṭ.

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.

Appreciate the Vastness of Vedic Sound

  1. 1

    The verse names eleven Vedic meters, beginning with Gāyatrī and ending with Ativirāṭ. These are forms of Vedic sound.

  2. 2

    Gāyatrī has twenty-four syllables, Uṣṇik twenty-eight and Anuṣṭup thirty-two. Each succeeding meter has four more syllables than the previous one.

  3. 3

    Vedic sound is called bṛhatī, or most expansive. Ordinary living entities cannot understand all its technical details.

Key points from the purport
  • The Gāyatrī meter has twenty-four syllables, the Uṣṇik twenty-eight, the Anuṣṭup thirty-two, and so on, each meter having four more syllables than the previous one.
  • Vedic sound is called bṛhatī, or most expansive, and thus it is not possible for ordinary living entities to understand all the technical details in this matter.

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

Striving → Complete devotional trust. The Lord redirects Uddhava toward enduring loving service.

Chapters 21–29 of Canto 11: Spiritual practice culminating in bhakti-yoga. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

It should be understood that there is no inner purport to the Vedas apart from the original Personality of Godhead. The Vedas focus exclusively upon the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gāyatrī uṣṇik anuṣṭup caknown as Gāyatrī, Uṣṇik and Anuṣṭup
  2. bṛhatī paṅktiḥBṛhatī and Paṅkti
  3. eva caalso
  4. triṣṭup jagatī aticchandaḥTriṣṭup, Jagatī and Aticchanda
  5. hiindeed
  6. atyaṣṭi-atijagat-virāṭAtyaṣṭi, Atijagatī and Ativirāṭ
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “understand”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I appreciate the vastness of Vedic sound without expecting to master every technical detail?

Practice

Write down the syllable counts of Gāyatrī, Uṣṇik and Anuṣṭup, and notice the increase of four.

Live this todayAppreciate the Vastness of Vedic SoundThis 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 11.21.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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