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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
11.4.1611.4.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.4.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Drumilasince 11.4.2inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

हंसस्वरूप्यवददच्युत आत्मयोगं

दत्त: कुमार ऋषभो भगवान् पिता न: ।

विष्णु: शिवाय जगतां कलयावतीर्ण-

स्तेनाहृता मधुभिदा श्रुतयोहयास्ये ॥ १७ ॥

haṁsa-svarūpy avadad acyuta ātma-yogaṁ

dattaḥ kumāra ṛṣabho bhagavān pitā naḥ

viṣṇuḥ śivāya jagatāṁ kalayāvatīrṇas

tenāhṛtā madhu-bhidā śrutayo hayāsye

Translation

The infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, has descended into this world by His various partial incarnations such as Lord Haṁsa [the swan], Dattātreya, the four Kumāras and our own father, the mighty Ṛṣabhadeva. By such incarnations, the Lord teaches the science of self-realization for the benefit of the whole universe. In His appearance as Hayagrīva He killed the demon Madhu and thus brought the Vedas back from the hellish planet Pātālaloka.

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.

The Lord Descends to Teach Self-Realization

  1. 1

    Viṣṇu, the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead, descends through various partial incarnations. These include Lord Haṁsa, Dattātreya, the four Kumāras and Ṛṣabhadeva.

  2. 2

    Through these incarnations, the Lord teaches self-realization for the benefit of the whole universe. The purport also describes Hari appearing as a young brahmacārī named Kumāra and teaching transcendental knowledge to Sanat-kumāra.

  3. 3

    As Hayagrīva, the Lord killed the demon Madhu. He brought the Vedas back from the hellish planet Pātālaloka.

Key points from the purport
  • It is stated in the Skanda Purāṇa that the Lord of the universe, Hari Himself, once appeared in the form of a young brahmacārī named Kumāra and spoke transcendental knowledge to Sanat-kumāra.

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 Personality of Godhead Lord Viṣṇu has appeared in various partial incarnations for the benefit of the entire world and has given instructions in spiritual knowledge in the forms of Haṁsa, Dattātreya, Sanaka and the other Kumāra brothers, and Ṛṣabhadeva. In the form of Hayagrīva He killed the demon Madhu and saved all the Vedas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. haṁsa-svarūpīassuming His eternal form of the swan incarnation
  2. avadatHe spoke
  3. acyutaḥthe infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. ātma-yogamself-realization
  5. dattaḥDattātreya
  6. kumāraḥthe Kumāra brothers, headed by Sanaka
  7. ṛṣabhaḥṚṣabhadeva
  8. bhagavānthe Lord
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 11.4

    In this verse: “father”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.4

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 does knowing that the Lord teaches for everyone’s welfare affect my willingness to learn?

Practice

Spend a few minutes rereading this verse, reflecting on the Lord’s kindness in teaching self-realization.

5

The story around it

The stories 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 11.4's connections

Live this todayThe Lord Descends to Teach Self-RealizationThis 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 11.4.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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