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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 5: Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva
11.5.1811.5.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.19

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Nimisince 11.5.19inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

श्री राजोवाच

कस्मिन् काले स भगवान् किं वर्ण: कीद‍ृशो नृभि: ।

नाम्ना वा केन विधिना पूज्यते तदिहोच्यताम् ॥ १९ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

kasmin kāle sa bhagavān

kiṁ varṇaḥ kīdṛśo nṛbhiḥ

nāmnā vā kena vidhinā

pūjyate tad ihocyatām

Translation

King Nimi inquired: In what colors and forms does the Supreme Personality of Godhead appear in each of the different ages, and with what names and by what types of regulative principles is the Lord worshiped in human society?

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.

Ask How to Worship the Lord

  1. 1

    King Nimi asks about the Supreme Lord’s colors, forms and names in the different ages. He also asks which regulative principles guide His worship.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that human life is spoiled without surrender to the Supreme Lord and loving devotional service.

  3. 3

    The King therefore seeks specific details about worship. Devotional service is the practical means of delivering the conditioned soul.

Key points from the purport
  • It has been clearly established in the previous verses that human life is spoiled if one does not surrender unto the Supreme Lord and engage in His loving devotional service.
  • Therefore the King is now requesting the sages to give specific details about the worship of the Lord because this devotional process has clearly been described as the only practical means of delivering the conditioned soul.

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 5: Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Hari, accepts in each of the different yugas various colors, names and forms and is worshiped by various prescribed processes. In Satya-yuga the Supreme Lord is white in complexion, has four arms, dresses as a brahmacārī, is known by such names as Haṁsa and is served by the practice of meditational yoga.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācathe King said
  2. kasminin what
  3. kāletime
  4. saḥHe
  5. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  6. kim varṇaḥhaving what color
  7. kīdṛśaḥhaving what form
  8. nṛbhiḥby men
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 11.5

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “devotional service”, “worship”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “inquired”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “principles”

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

What specific question about worship would help me serve the Lord more attentively?

Practice

Write down one sincere question about how to engage in the Lord’s loving devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAsk How to Worship the LordThis 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 11.5.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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