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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa
11.23.311.23.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.23.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

कथयन्ति महत्पुण्यमितिहासमिहोद्धव ।

तमहं वर्णयिष्यामि निबोध सुसमाहित: ॥ ४ ॥

kathayanti mahat puṇyam

itihāsam ihoddhava

tam ahaṁ varṇayiṣyāmi

nibodha su-samāhitaḥ

Translation

My dear Uddhava, in this regard a most pious story is told, and I shall now describe it to you. Please listen with careful attention.

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.

Listen Carefully to Learn Tolerance

  1. 1

    The Lord introduces a most pious historical account for Uddhava to hear.

  2. 2

    This account teaches how to tolerate the insults of others.

  3. 3

    The Lord asks Uddhava to listen with careful attention. Such attention is important for receiving the teaching.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord will now relate to Uddhava a historical account which teaches how to tolerate the insults of others.

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 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This chapter tells the story of a mendicant sannyāsī from the Avantī country as an example of how one should tolerate the disturbances and offenses created by evil persons. The harsh words of uncouth persons pierce the heart even more severely than arrows.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kathayantithey tell
  2. mahatgreatly
  3. puṇyampious
  4. itihāsamstory
  5. ihain this regard
  6. uddhavaMy dear Uddhava
  7. tamthat
  8. ahamI
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

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

How attentively do I listen when the Lord’s teaching challenges my reactions to insults?

Practice

Set aside distractions for a few minutes while reading the account that follows.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayListen Carefully to Learn ToleranceThis 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 11.23.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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