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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
11.5.3111.5.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.32

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

कृष्णवर्णं त्विषाकृष्णं साङ्गोपाङ्गास्त्रपार्षदम् ।

यज्ञै: सङ्कीर्तनप्रायैर्यजन्ति हि सुमेधस: ॥ ३२ ॥

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ

sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam

yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair

yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

Translation

In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.

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 Lord Caitanya by Chanting Together

  1. 1

    Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appearing with a golden complexion. He constantly chants Kṛṣṇa’s holy name and describes Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    The Lord is accompanied by His associates and confidential companions. His all-attractive beauty acts as His weapon to subdue the demons.

  3. 3

    People of every caste, color and creed can assemble and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa to worship Lord Caitanya. This worship satisfies the Supreme Lord, who has appeared to restore devotional service and distribute love of Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • That golden Lord Kṛṣṇa is Lord Caitanya, who is worshiped by intelligent men in this age.
  • The name Kṛṣṇa appears with both Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya Kṛṣṇa.
  • In other words, Lord Caitanya is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.

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· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.2.35

Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ: “In this age the intelligent person completes the performances of all kinds of yajñas simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.4.6

Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the sound vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, and in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) it is also recommended: yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.6.53

Therefore in this age it is recommended, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.30.36

In this Age of Kali, Nārāyaṇa is immediately present in the form of Lord Caitanya.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.7.5

Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ. After all, sacrifices are executed to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 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. Since in Kali-yuga all the goals of human life can be achieved simply by the glorification of the holy name of Lord Śrī Hari, those who can appreciate the real essence of things praise Kali-yuga.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kṛṣṇa-varṇamrepeating the syllables kṛṣ-ṇa
  2. tviṣāwith a luster
  3. akṛṣṇamnot black (golden)
  4. sa-aṅgaalong with associates
  5. upa-aṅgaservitors
  6. astraweapons
  7. pārṣadamconfidential companions
  8. yajñaiḥby sacrifice
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: “chanting”, “chants”, “holy name”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “companions”

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 could I make room for chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names together with others?

Practice

Invite someone to join you today in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship Lord Caitanya by Chanting TogetherOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 11.5.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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