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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
11.31.2011.31.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.31.21

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

अर्जुन: प्रेयस: सख्यु: कृष्णस्य विरहातुर: ।

आत्मानं सान्त्वयामास कृष्णगीतै: सदुक्तिभि: ॥ २१ ॥

arjunaḥ preyasaḥ sakhyuḥ

kṛṣṇasya virahāturaḥ

ātmānaṁ sāntvayām āsa

kṛṣṇa-gītaiḥ sad-uktibhiḥ

Translation

Arjuna felt great distress over separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa, his dearmost friend. But he consoled himself by remembering the transcendental words the Lord had sung to him.

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.

Find Consolation in Kṛṣṇa’s Words

  1. 1

    Arjuna felt great distress at separation from Kṛṣṇa, his dearmost friend. He consoled himself by remembering the Lord’s transcendental words.

  2. 2

    The purport recalls Kṛṣṇa’s teaching that He is unborn and infallible, though hidden from the deluded world by His eternal creative potency. It also recalls His promise that Arjuna would come to Him.

  3. 3

    The account quoted in the purport describes Lord Govinda in His original personal form. Arjuna, also in his original form, was worshiping Him.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Arjuna remembered such verses from the Gītā as:
  • O descendant of Kuntī, Lord Madhusūdana was being worshiped by the effulgent hero Arjuna, who also appeared in his original form.
  • When these two lions among men, who are worshipable by the demigods, noticed the presence of Yudhiṣṭhira, they approached him with proper respect and offered him worship.”

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 11.31.21 quotesBG 7.25

loko mām ajam avyayam. “I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent.

The purport of SB 11.31.21 quotesBG 18.65

Similarly, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has mentioned the Gītā verse mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo ’si me: “You will come to Me without fail.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Though overcome by feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna was nevertheless able to pacify himself by remembering all the various instructions given to him by the Lord. Arjuna then carried out the rituals of offering piṇḍa and so on for his dead relatives.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.31
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arjunaḥArjuna
  2. preyasaḥof his dear
  3. sakhyuḥfriend
  4. kṛṣṇasyaLord Kṛṣṇa
  5. virahabecause of the separation
  6. āturaḥdistressed
  7. ātmānamhimself
  8. sāntvayām āsaconsoled
  9. kṛṣṇa-gītaiḥwith the song sung by Lord Kṛṣṇa (the Bhagavad-gītā)
  10. sat-uktibhiḥwith the transcendental words
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 11.31

    In this verse: “separation”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.31

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.31

    In this verse: “friend”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which of Kṛṣṇa’s words quoted here gives you the most reassurance?

Practice

Read aloud Kṛṣṇa’s promise: “You will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.31's connections

Live this todayFind Consolation in Kṛṣṇa’s WordsThis 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 11.31.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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