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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 31: The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
11.31.111.31.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.31.2-3

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

पितर: सिद्धगन्धर्वा विद्याधरमहोरगा: ।

चारणा यक्षरक्षांसि किन्नराप्सरसो द्विजा: ॥ २ ॥

द्रष्टुकामा भगवतो निर्याणं परमोत्सुका: ।

गायन्तश्च गृणन्तश्च शौरे: कर्माणि जन्म च ॥ ३ ॥

pitaraḥ siddha-gandharvā

vidyādhara-mahoragāḥ

cāraṇā yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi

kinnarāpsaraso dvijāḥ

draṣṭu-kāmā bhagavato

niryāṇaṁ paramotsukāḥ

gāyantaś ca gṛṇantaś ca

śaureḥ karmāṇi janma ca

Translation

The forefathers, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas and great serpents also came, along with the Cāraṇas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Kinnaras, Apsarās and relatives of Garuḍa, greatly eager to witness the departure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As they were coming, all these personalities variously chanted and glorified the birth and activities of Lord Śauri [Kṛṣṇa].

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.

Glorifying Kṛṣṇa With Eagerness

  1. 1

    The forefathers and many higher beings, including relatives of Garuḍa, came to witness the Lord’s departure.

  2. 2

    They were greatly eager to see the departure of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    As they approached, they chanted and glorified the birth and activities of Lord Śauri.

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. pitaraḥthe forefathers
  2. siddha-gandharvāḥthe Siddhas and Gandharvas
  3. vidyādhara-mahā-uragāḥthe Vidyādharas and the great serpents
  4. cāraṇāḥthe Cāraṇas
  5. yakṣa-rakṣāṁsithe Yakṣas and Rākṣasas
  6. kinnara-apsarasaḥthe Kinnaras and Apsarās
  7. dvijāḥthe great birds
  8. draṣṭu-kāmāḥdesirous of seeing
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.31

    In this verse: “chanted”, “glorified”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you bring greater eagerness to glorifying Lord Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one minute saying words of praise to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGlorifying Kṛṣṇa With EagernessThis 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 11.31.2-3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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