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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
11.31.2-311.31.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.31.4

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

ववृषु: पुष्पवर्षाणि विमानावलिभिर्नभ: ।

कुर्वन्त: सङ्कुलं राजन् भक्त्या परमया युता: ॥ ४ ॥

vavṛṣuḥ puṣpa-varṣāṇi

vimānāvalibhir nabhaḥ

kurvantaḥ saṅkulaṁ rājan

bhaktyā paramayā yutāḥ

Translation

O King, crowding the sky with their many airplanes, they showered down flowers with great devotion.

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.

Offering Flowers With Great Devotion

  1. 1

    The assembled personalities crowded the sky with their many airplanes.

  2. 2

    They showered flowers down upon the Lord.

  3. 3

    Their offering was made with great devotion; this devotion is central to the scene.

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:

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. All the demigods who, in pursuance of the desire of Lord Kṛṣṇa, had taken birth in the Yadu dynasty to render assistance in His pastimes followed Lord Kṛṣṇa and returned to their respective abodes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.31
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vavṛṣuḥthey showered
  2. puṣpa-varṣāṇishowers of flowers
  3. vimānaof airplanes
  4. āvalibhiḥby great numbers
  5. nabhaḥthe sky
  6. kurvantaḥmaking
  7. saṅkulamfilled up
  8. rājanO King Parīkṣit
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.31

    In this verse: “devotion”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.31

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What helps you make an offering with devotion rather than merely going through the motions?

Practice

Offer a flower to Lord Kṛṣṇa today with a moment of sincere attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffering Flowers With Great DevotionThis 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 11.31.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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