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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 31: The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
11.30.5011.31.2-3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.31.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 11.31.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

अथ तत्रागमद् ब्रह्मा भवान्या च समं भव: ।

महेन्द्रप्रमुखा देवा मुनय: सप्रजेश्वरा: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

atha tatrāgamad brahmā

bhavānyā ca samaṁ bhavaḥ

mahendra-pramukhā devā

munayaḥ sa-prajeśvarāḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Then Lord Brahmā arrived at Prabhāsa along with Lord Śiva and his consort, the sages, the Prajāpatis and all the demigods, headed by Indra.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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 Demigods Gather at Prabhāsa

  1. 1

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes Lord Brahmā arriving at Prabhāsa.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva came with his consort, along with the sages and the Prajāpatis.

  3. 3

    All the demigods, headed by Indra, also joined this gathering.

How it feels

Sorrow and shock → Remembrance and acceptance. Devotees face a devastating change in visible association.

Chapters 30–31 of Canto 11: The Yadu dynasty and Kṛṣṇa disappear. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 31: The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This chapter describes the return of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to His own abode, along with all the Yadus. Upon learning from Dāruka that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa had returned to His abode, Vasudeva and all the others remaining in Dvārakā became very much agitated by lamentation and went out from the city to find Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.31
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. athathen
  3. tatrathere
  4. āgamatcame
  5. brahmāLord Brahmā
  6. bhavānyāhis consort, Bhavānī
  7. caand
  8. samamalong with
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this gathering help you approach the account of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s disappearance with reverence?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, noting the different persons who gathered.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Demigods Gather at PrabhāsaThis 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 11.31.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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