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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.4.22

Who is speaking and story frame

भूमेर्भरावतरणाय यदुष्वजन्मा

जात: करिष्यति सुरैरपि दुष्कराणि ।

वादैर्विमोहयति यज्ञकृतोऽतदर्हान्

शूद्रान् कलौ क्षितिभुजो न्यहनिष्यदन्ते ॥ २२ ॥

bhūmer bharāvataraṇāya yaduṣv ajanmā

jātaḥ kariṣyati surair api duṣkarāṇi

vādair vimohayati yajña-kṛto ’tad-arhān

śūdrān kalau kṣiti-bhujo nyahaniṣyad ante

Translation

To diminish the burden of the earth, the unborn Lord will take birth in the Yadu dynasty and perform feats impossible even for the demigods. Propounding speculative philosophy, the Lord, as Buddha, will bewilder the unworthy performers of Vedic sacrifices. And as Kalki the Lord will kill all the low-class men posing as rulers at the end of the Age of Kali.

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 Relieves the Earth’s Burden

  1. 1

    The unborn Lord’s appearance in the Yadu dynasty refers to both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Together They removed the demoniac rulers burdening the earth and performed deeds impossible even for the demigods.

  2. 2

    As Buddha, the Lord bewilders unworthy performers of Vedic sacrifices through speculative philosophy. The purport identifies misuse of sacrifice for gross sense gratification, including sinful animal killing, as low-class conduct.

  3. 3

    As Kalki, the Lord will kill the low-class men posing as rulers at the end of Kali. The purport describes such political leaders as committing atrocities in the name of state management.

Key points from the purport
  • It is understood that in this verse the description of the Lord’s appearance in the Yadu dynasty refers to the appearance of both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who together removed the demoniac rulers who were burdening the earth.
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has pointed out that the description of the incarnations to deal with śūdrān, or low-class men, refers to both Buddha and Kalki.
  • Those who misuse Vedic sacrifice to engage in gross sense gratification, such as the sinful killing of animals, are certainly in the category of śūdra, as are the so-called political leaders of Kali-yuga who perform many atrocities in the name of state management.

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 Buddha, by His argumentative preaching in defiance of the Vedas He bewildered the demons who were unqualified to perform sacrifices, and at the end of Kali-yuga He will destroy the śūdra kings in His form of Kalki. In this way the innumerable appearances and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Hari are described.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhūmeḥof the earth
  2. bharathe burden
  3. avataraṇāyato diminish
  4. yaduṣuin the Yadu dynasty
  5. ajanmāthe unborn Lord
  6. jātaḥtaking birth
  7. kariṣyatiHe will perform
  8. suraiḥby the demigods
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophy”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.4

    In this verse: “rulers”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

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

Does your approach to devotional service seek to serve the Lord or satisfy your own senses?

Practice

Before one devotional activity today, pause and make a clear intention to serve Kṛṣṇa rather than seek personal enjoyment.

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.

Live this todayThe Lord Relieves the Earth’s BurdenThis 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 11.4.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.