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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
11.5.2211.5.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.23

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

हंस: सुपर्णो वैकुण्ठो धर्मो योगेश्वरोऽमल: ।

ईश्वर: पुरुषोऽव्यक्त: परमात्मेति गीयते ॥ २३ ॥

haṁsaḥ suparṇo vaikuṇṭho

dharmo yogeśvaro ’malaḥ

īśvaraḥ puruṣo ’vyaktaḥ

paramātmeti gīyate

Translation

In Satya-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Haṁsa, Suparṇa, Vaikuṇṭha, Dharma, Yogeśvara, Amala, Īśvara, Puruṣa, Avyakta and Paramātmā.

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.

Many Names Glorify the One Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    In Satya-yuga, Lord Vāsudeva appears in various four-armed transcendental forms. His color is white, and He dresses as an ideal meditative brahmacārī.

  2. 2

    People glorify the Lord with names that reflect their understanding and condition. Those with disturbed minds call Him Yogeśvara, the perfectly self-controlled Lord; those affected by passion and ignorance call Him Amala, the uncontaminated.

  3. 3

    The living souls worship the Supreme Lord through their particular processes of devotional service. In this way, the same Supreme Personality of Godhead has many different names.

Key points from the purport
  • Persons accustomed to wandering within this universe of subtle and gross matter created by the Lord’s illusory potency chant His name Vaikuṇṭha.
  • Persons deprived of the power of transcendental meditation (dhāraṇā), who are thus subject to falling from the path of religion, glorify Him as Dharma, or religion personified.
  • Therefore the Supreme Lord has many different names.

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:

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. In Tretā-yuga He is red in color and four-armed, is the personification of sacrifice, is characterized by the symbols of the sacrificial spoon, ladle, etc., is called by such names as Yajña and is worshiped by Vedic sacrifices.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. haṁsaḥthe transcendental swan
  2. su-parṇaḥwhose wings are very beautiful
  3. vaikuṇṭhaḥthe Lord of the spiritual kingdom
  4. dharmaḥthe maintainer of religion
  5. yoga-īśvaraḥthe master of all mystic perfection
  6. amalaḥimmaculate
  7. īśvaraḥthe supreme controller
  8. puruṣaḥthe supreme enjoying male
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “glorified”, “glorify”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.5

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “dharma”

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

Which of the Lord’s names described here helps you turn toward Him in your present condition?

Practice

Choose Yogeśvara or Amala and softly repeat that name, remembering the quality explained here.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMany Names Glorify the One Supreme 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 11.5.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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