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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 26: The Aila-gītā
11.26.311.26.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.26.4

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.26.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

ऐल: सम्राडिमां गाथामगायत बृहच्छ्रवा: ।

उर्वशीविरहान् मुह्यन् निर्विण्ण: शोकसंयमे ॥ ४ ॥

ailaḥ samrāḍ imāṁ gāthām

agāyata bṛhac-chravāḥ

urvaśī-virahān muhyan

nirviṇṇaḥ śoka-saṁyame

Translation

The following song was sung by the famous emperor Purūravā. When deprived of his wife, Urvaśī, he was at first bewildered, but by controlling his lamentation he began to feel detachment.

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.

From Bewilderment Toward Detachment

  1. 1

    Purūravā was a famous emperor whose glories were vast. Yet separation from his wife, Urvaśī, left him bewildered.

  2. 2

    When he brought his lamentation under control, he began to feel detachment and sang this song.

  3. 3

    The purport also recounts that he briefly met Urvaśī at Kurukṣetra. Through worship of the demigods with sacrificial fire given by the Gandharvas, he gained entry to her planet.

Key points from the purport
  • Aila, or Purūravā, was a great king whose glories were vast.
  • On being separated from Urvaśī, he felt great bewilderment at first.
  • But after meeting her briefly at Kurukṣetra, he worshiped the demigods with the sacrificial fire given him by the Gandharvas and received the privilege of entering the planet where she resided.

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 26: The Aila-gītā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The emperor Purūravā, who was bewildered by the association of the heavenly lady Urvaśī, later became renounced after being separated from her. He thus sang a song expressing his contempt for womanly connection.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ailaḥKing Purūravā
  2. samrāṭthe great emperor
  3. imāmthis
  4. gāthāmsong
  5. agāyatasang
  6. bṛhatmighty
  7. śravāḥwhose fame
  8. urvaśī-virahātbecause of experiencing separation from Urvaśī
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “lamentation”, “separation”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “detachment”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “emperor”

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 might bringing lamentation under control help me see an attachment more clearly?

Practice

Take a quiet moment to name one attachment without dwelling on your lamentation about it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFrom Bewilderment Toward DetachmentThis 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 11.26.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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