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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
11.5.4711.5.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.48

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 11.5.43inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Vasudeva

वैरेण यं नृपतय: शिशुपालपौण्ड्र-

शाल्वादयो गतिविलासविलोकनाद्यै: ।

ध्यायन्त आकृतधिय: शयनासनादौ

तत्साम्यमापुरनुरक्तधियां पुन: किम् ॥ ४८ ॥

vaireṇa yaṁ nṛpatayaḥ śiśupāla-pauṇḍra-

śālvādayo gati-vilāsa-vilokanādyaiḥ

dhyāyanta ākṛta-dhiyaḥ śayanāsanādau

tat-sāmyam āpur anurakta-dhiyāṁ punaḥ kim

Translation

Inimical kings like Śiśupāla, Pauṇḍraka and Śālva were always thinking about Lord Kṛṣṇa. Even while they were lying down, sitting or engaging in other activities, they enviously meditated upon the bodily movements of the Lord, His sporting pastimes, His loving glances upon His devotees, and other attractive features displayed by the Lord. Being thus always absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, they achieved spiritual liberation in the Lord’s own abode. What then can be said of the benedictions offered to those who constantly fix their minds on Lord Kṛṣṇa in a favorable, loving mood?

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.

Fix the Mind on Kṛṣṇa with Love

  1. 1

    Even the demons who opposed Kṛṣṇa attained liberation through constant absorption in Him. What doubt, then, is there about the destination of those filled with loving devotion?

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is pleased when a pure devotee becomes absorbed in parental love and devotedly cares for Him. He reciprocates those intense devotional feelings by appearing and acting as the devotee’s son.

  3. 3

    Vasudeva and Devakī should never be considered ordinary, conditioned souls. Their parental love for the Personality of Godhead is completely transcendental, not based on material enjoyment.

Key points from the purport
  • So Nārada here assures Vasudeva that even the demons who opposed Kṛṣṇa, such as Śiśupāla, Pauṇḍraka and Śālva, achieved promotion to the Lord’s own abode because of their constant absorption in thinking of Kṛṣṇa.
  • However, Lord Kṛṣṇa is actually pleased when a pure devotee becomes absorbed in parental love for Him and thus devotedly tries to care for Him just as loving parents care for a small child.
  • Therefore, what to speak of the destination of Vasudeva, who chastised Kṛṣṇa due to his overwhelming parental love for Him?

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:

Even by meditating upon Kṛṣṇa in a spirit of enmity, such kings as Śiśupāla attained an equal status to Him. So to attempt to say anything more about the perfect achievement of great souls such as Vasudeva, who enjoy intimate loving relations with Kṛṣṇa, would be a useless endeavor.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vaireṇawith envy
  2. yamwhom (Lord Kṛṣṇa)
  3. nṛ-patayaḥkings
  4. śiśupāla-pauṇḍra-śālva-ādayaḥlike Śiśupāla, Pauṇḍraka, Śālva, etc.
  5. gatiupon His movements
  6. vilāsasporting
  7. vilokanaglances
  8. ādyaiḥand so forth
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “favorable”

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 can I remember Kṛṣṇa in a favorable, loving mood during my ordinary activities?

Practice

While sitting quietly today, spend one minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s loving glances upon His devotees.

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.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.5's connections

Live this todayFix the Mind on Kṛṣṇa with LoveThis 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 11.5.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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