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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 11.5.31

Who is speaking and story frame

इति द्वापर उर्वीश स्तुवन्ति जगदीश्वरम् ।

नानातन्त्रविधानेन कलावपि तथा श‍ृणु ॥ ३१ ॥

iti dvāpara urv-īśa

stuvanti jagad-īśvaram

nānā-tantra-vidhānena

kalāv api tathā śṛṇu

Translation

O King, in this way people in Dvāpara-yuga glorified the Lord of the universe. In Kali-yuga also people worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead by following various regulations of the revealed scriptures. Now kindly hear of this from me.

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.

Worship Remains Possible Even in Kali-yuga

  1. 1

    Even in the irreligious Age of Kali, people worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His incarnation does not directly declare Himself to be God, but expert devotees recognize Him through revealed scripture.

  2. 2

    Highly technical Vedic sacrifices and severe mystic yoga practices are practically inaccessible to ordinary people in Kali-yuga. Therefore glorifying the Lord by chanting His holy names is essential.

  3. 3

    The Vaiṣṇava scriptures known as Pañcarātras describe chanting the Lord’s holy names and worshiping His Deity form. These devotional processes, taught by great ācāryas such as Nārada Muni, are the practical means of worship in this age.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore it is stated kalāv api, “even in Kali-yuga.”
  • In Kali-yuga the incarnation of the Personality of Godhead does not directly assert Himself to be the Personality of Godhead, but rather He is detected by expert devotees in accordance with the revealed Vedic scriptures.
  • In the Age of Kali, however, You do not assert Yourself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore You are known as Triyuga, or the Lord who appears in three yugas.”

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 3

The purport of SB 11.5.31 quotesSB 7.9.38

Similarly, Prahlāda Mahārāja states in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.38): “In this way, my Lord, You appear in various incarnations as a human being, an animal, a great saintly demigod, a fish or a tortoise, thus maintaining the entire creation in different planetary systems and killing the demoniac principles.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 3.51

This verse is spoken by Saint Karabhājana in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.31).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 6.102

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.31).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 Dvāpara-yuga He is of dark blue complexion, wears a yellow garment, is marked by Śrīvatsa and other signs, has such names as Vāsudeva and is worshiped in His Deity form by the regulations of the Vedas and tantras. In Kali-yuga He is golden in color, is accompanied by associates who are His primary and secondary limbs and His weapons, is absorbed in kṛṣṇa-kīrtana and is worshiped by the performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. dvāparein the Dvāpara age
  3. uru-īśaO King
  4. stuvantithey praise
  5. jagat-īśvaramthe Lord of the universe
  6. nānāvarious
  7. tantraof scriptures
  8. vidhānenaby the regulations
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: “worship”, “devotional”, “devotees”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “glorified”, “chanting”, “glorifying”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “kindly”

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 does the availability of chanting encourage you to worship despite your limitations?

Practice

Set aside two minutes today to chant the Lord’s holy names attentively.

5

The story around it

The story 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 todayWorship Remains Possible Even in Kali-yugaThis 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 11.5.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.