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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
11.5.4811.5.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.49

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

मापत्यबुद्धिमकृथा: कृष्णे सर्वात्मनीश्वरे ।

मायामनुष्यभावेन गूढैश्वर्ये परेऽव्यये ॥ ४९ ॥

māpatya-buddhim akṛthāḥ

kṛṣṇe sarvātmanīśvare

māyā-manuṣya-bhāvena

gūḍhaiśvarye pare ’vyaye

Translation

Do not think of Kṛṣṇa as an ordinary child, because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, inexhaustible and the Soul of all beings. The Lord has concealed His inconceivable opulences and is thus outwardly appearing to be an ordinary human being.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Remains Supreme in His Loving Relationships

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is always the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with inexhaustible transcendental opulences. His humanlike appearance does not make Him an ordinary human being.

  2. 2

    To reciprocate Vasudeva’s love, Kṛṣṇa concealed His unlimited opulences and placed Himself under his father’s control. Nārada encouraged Vasudeva to continue loving Kṛṣṇa as his beloved son.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the eternal well-wisher of every living entity and remains the supreme controller. His exalted devotees remain under His shelter and never give up loving devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • But at the same time, Nārada is removing Vasudeva’s doubts about the future by assuring him, “Due to your love for Kṛṣṇa you may think that He is an ordinary human being.
  • You are appearing like a human being, and Lord Kṛṣṇa is simply reciprocating with you.
  • The word māyā in this verse indicates that Kṛṣṇa’s manuṣya, or humanlike, activities are actually misleading to the ordinary man because Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

He told Vasudeva that although Lord Kṛṣṇa had become his son, having appeared in this world to free the earth of its burden, he still should not think of Lord Kṛṣṇa as his child, but rather as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even by meditating upon Kṛṣṇa in a spirit of enmity, such kings as Śiśupāla attained an equal status to Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mādo not
  2. apatya-buddhimthe idea of being your son
  3. akṛthāḥimpose
  4. kṛṣṇeon Kṛṣṇa
  5. sarva-ātmanithe Supreme Soul of all
  6. īśvarethe Personality of Godhead
  7. māyāby His power of illusion
  8. manuṣya-bhāvenaappearing as if an ordinary person
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “child”, “father’s”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “give up”

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 remembering Kṛṣṇa as both the supreme controller and eternal well-wisher affect my trust in Him?

Practice

Read the translation slowly today, pausing to remember that Kṛṣṇa’s humanlike appearance conceals His inconceivable opulences.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Remains Supreme in His Loving RelationshipsThis 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 11.5.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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