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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
11.5.1911.5.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Karabhājanasince 11.5.20inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

श्रीकरभाजन उवाच

कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिरित्येषु केशव: ।

नानावर्णाभिधाकारो नानैव विधिनेज्यते ॥ २० ॥

śrī-karabhājana uvāca

kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca

kalir ity eṣu keśavaḥ

nānā-varṇābhidhākāro

nānaiva vidhinejyate

Translation

Śrī Karabhājana replied: In each of the four yugas, or ages — Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali — Lord Keśava appears with various complexions, names and forms and is thus worshiped by various processes.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

One Lord Appears Throughout the Ages

  1. 1

    Śrī Karabhājana describes four ages: Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali.

  2. 2

    Lord Keśava appears in these ages with various complexions, names and forms.

  3. 3

    The processes by which people worship Him also vary. In each age, the object of worship is Lord Keśava.

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-karabhājanaḥ uvācaŚrī Karabhājana said
  2. kṛtamSatya
  3. tretāTretā
  4. dvāparamDvāpara
  5. caand
  6. kaliḥKali
  7. itithus named
  8. eṣuin these ages
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”, “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

What does this verse help me understand about the Lord’s appearances and worship?

Practice

Write the four ages in order and note beside them that Lord Keśava is worshiped in each.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOne Lord Appears Throughout the AgesThis 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 11.5.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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