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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
11.4.2011.4.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.4.21

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

नि:क्षत्रियामकृत गां च त्रि:सप्तकृत्वो

रामस्तु हैहयकुलाप्ययभार्गवाग्नि: ।

सोऽब्धिं बबन्ध दशवक्त्रमहन् सलङ्कं

सीतापतिर्जयति लोकमलघ्नकीर्ति: ॥ २१ ॥

niḥkṣatriyām akṛta gāṁ ca triḥ-sapta-kṛtvo

rāmas tu haihaya-kulāpyaya-bhārgavāgniḥ

so ’bdhiṁ babandha daśa-vaktram ahan sa-laṅkaṁ

sītā-patir jayati loka-mala-ghna-kīṛtiḥ

Translation

Lord Paraśurāma appeared in the family of Bhṛgu as a fire that burned to ashes the dynasty of Haihaya. Thus Lord Paraśurāma rid the earth of all kṣatriyas twenty-one times. The same Lord appeared as Rāmacandra, the husband of Sītādevī, and thus He killed the ten-headed Rāvaṇa, along with all the soldiers of Laṅkā. May that Śrī Rāma, whose glories destroy the contamination of the world, be always victorious.

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.

Śrī Rāma’s Glories Purify the World

  1. 1

    Lord Paraśurāma appeared in Bhṛgu’s family like a fire that consumed the Haihaya dynasty. He rid the earth of kṣatriyas twenty-one times.

  2. 2

    The same Lord appeared as Rāmacandra, the husband of Sītādevī, and killed Rāvaṇa along with the soldiers of Laṅkā. His glories destroy the contamination of the world.

  3. 3

    According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Lord Rāmacandra was more or less a contemporary incarnation for the nine Yogendras. They therefore offered Him particular respect through the word jayati.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Lord Rāmacandra was more or less a contemporary incarnation for the nine Yogendras.
  • Thus they have offered particular respect to Lord Rāmacandra, as indicated by the word jayati.

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:

In the form of Vāmana, the dwarf brāhmaṇa boy, He cheated Bali Mahārāja; in the form of Paraśurāma He rid the earth of kṣatriyas twenty-one times; and in the form of Śrī Rāma He brought the ocean under His submission and killed Rāvaṇa. Descending into the Yadu dynasty, He removed the burden of the earth.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. niḥkṣatriyāmdevoid of members of the warrior class
  2. akṛtaHe made
  3. gāmthe earth
  4. caand
  5. triḥ-sapta-kṛtvaḥthree times seven (twenty-one) times
  6. rāmaḥLord Paraśurāma
  7. tuindeed
  8. haihaya-kulaof the dynasty of Haihaya
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.4

    In this verse: “contamination”

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 might remembering Śrī Rāma’s purifying glories shape what you give attention to today?

Practice

Respectfully repeat the verse’s prayer: “May that Śrī Rāma, whose glories destroy the contamination of the world, be always victorious.”

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 todayŚrī Rāma’s Glories Purify the WorldThis 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 11.4.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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