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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
11.31.2712.1.1-2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.31.28

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

इत्थं हरेर्भगवतो रुचिरावतार-

वीर्याणि बालचरितानि च शन्तमानि ।

अन्यत्र चेह च श्रुतानि गृणन् मनुष्यो

भक्तिं परां परमहंसगतौ लभेत ॥ २८ ॥

कलेर्दोषनिधे राजन्नस्ति ह्येको महान् गुण: ।

कीर्तनादेव कृष्णस्य मुक्तसङ्ग: परं व्रजेत् ॥ ५१ ॥

itthaṁ harer bhagavato rucirāvatāra-

vīryāṇi bāla-caritāni ca śantamāni

anyatra ceha ca śrutāni gṛṇan manuṣyo

bhaktiṁ parāṁ paramahaṁsa-gatau labheta

Translation

The all-auspicious exploits of the all-attractive incarnations of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and also the pastimes He performed as a child, are described in this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and in other scriptures. Anyone who clearly chants these descriptions of His pastimes will attain transcendental loving service unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the goal of all perfect sages.

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.

Chanting Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes Leads to Loving Service

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The exploits of His all-attractive incarnations and His childhood pastimes are all-auspicious.

  2. 2

    These pastimes are described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and other scriptures.

  3. 3

    Anyone who clearly chants these descriptions will attain transcendental loving service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. He is the goal of all perfect sages.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Thirty-first Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.”
  • The Eleventh Canto was completed at the New Gokula South American pilgrimage site, state of Sāo Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, March 26, 1982.

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

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. itthamthus
  2. hareḥof Lord Hari
  3. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. ruciraattractive
  5. avatāraof the incarnations
  6. vīryāṇithe exploits
  7. bālachildhood
  8. caritānipastimes
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 11.31

    In this verse: “child”, “childhood”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chants”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can the goal of loving service to Kṛṣṇa shape the way you read and chant His pastimes?

Practice

Clearly read aloud a short description of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, keeping loving service to Him as your goal.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChanting Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes Leads to Loving ServiceThis 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 11.31.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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