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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 4: Drumila Explains the Incarnations of Godhead to King Nimi
11.3.5511.4.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.4.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Nimisince 11.4.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

श्रीराजोवाच

यानि यानीह कर्माणि यैर्यै: स्वच्छन्दजन्मभि: ।

चक्रे करोति कर्ता वा हरिस्तानि ब्रुवन्तु न: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

yāni yānīha karmāṇi

yair yaiḥ svacchanda-janmabhiḥ

cakre karoti kartā vā

haris tāni bruvantu naḥ

Translation

King Nimi said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead descends into the material world by His internal potency and according to His own desire. Therefore, please tell us about the various pastimes Lord Hari has performed in the past, is performing now and will perform in this world in the future in His various incarnations.

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.

Hear About the Lord to Deepen Worship

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead descends by His internal potency and His own desire. King Nimi eagerly asks about His incarnations to advance in loving service.

  2. 2

    Worship requires knowledge of the Lord’s transcendental qualities and pastimes. Among His eternal forms, one should worship the form that most inspires one’s love.

  3. 3

    One must not invent a form of the Lord or imitate love for Him. Love awakens through following the bona fide spiritual master’s instructions and submissively hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Key points from the purport
  • The forty-eighth verse of the Third Chapter stated, mūrtyābhimatayātmanaḥ: “One should worship the particular form of the Lord most attractive to oneself.”
  • King Nimi, therefore, is eagerly inquiring about the various incarnations of the Supreme Lord so that he can ascertain which particular form of the Supreme Lord is most suitable for his personal worship.
  • Abhimata-mūrti means that among the eternal forms of the Lord one should select that form which most inspires one’s love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: Drumila Explains the Incarnations of Godhead to King Nimi

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The various forms of the past, present and future incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Hari, and the various transcendental characteristics of each of these avatāras constitute the subject matter of this chapter. Even if it were ever possible to count all the particles of dust on the face of the earth, any attempt to count all the innumerable transcendental qualities of the unlimited Lord Hari, the foundation of all potencies, would be simply madness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācathe King said
  2. yāni yānieach
  3. ihain this world
  4. karmāṇiof the activities
  5. yaiḥ yaiḥby each
  6. svacchandaassumed independently
  7. janmabhiḥof the appearances
  8. cakreHe performed
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.4

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.4

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.4

    In this verse: “worship”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can hearing about the Lord’s qualities and pastimes deepen my worship?

Practice

Read this translation slowly, with the intention of learning about Lord Hari for His loving service.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear About the Lord to Deepen WorshipThis 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 11.4.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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