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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
11.5.4911.5.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.50

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

भूभारासुरराजन्यहन्तवे गुप्तये सताम् ।

अवतीर्णस्य निर्वृत्यै यशो लोके वितन्यते ॥ ५० ॥

bhū-bhārāsura-rājanya-

hantave guptaye satām

avatīrṇasya nirvṛtyai

yaśo loke vitanyate

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead descended to kill the demoniac kings who were the burden of the earth and to protect the saintly devotees. However, both the demons and the devotees are awarded liberation by the Lord’s mercy. Thus, His transcendental fame has spread throughout the universe.

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.

The Lord’s Mercy Liberates Devotees and Demons

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead descended to remove the demoniac kings and protect His saintly devotees. He killed the demons not out of envy, but to give them spiritual liberation.

  2. 2

    Generally, demons receive impersonal liberation in the Brahman effulgence. Devotees receive the superior benediction of love of Godhead in the spiritual planets.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s causeless mercy toward all classes of living entities spreads His fame throughout the universe. Because His transcendental fame is not different from Him, its expansion gradually liberates the universe.

Key points from the purport
  • A doubt may arise as to how the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends to this material world.
  • Thus the causeless mercy of the Personality of Godhead in liberating both the devotees and the demons by His inconceivable pastimes clearly distinguishes the Lord from any other living entity, either man or demigod.
  • Thus, the Lord exhibits His causeless mercy toward all classes of living entities, and His fame is spread throughout the universe.

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. bhū-bhārawho were the burden of the earth
  2. asurademons
  3. rājanyamembers of the kingly order
  4. hantavein order to kill
  5. guptayefor the protection
  6. satāmof the saintly devotees
  7. avatīrṇasyaof Him who has descended
  8. nirvṛtyaialso for awarding liberation
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “kings”

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

What does the Lord’s mercy toward both devotees and demons help me understand about His unique nature?

Practice

Read aloud the verse’s description of the Lord’s mercy, then pause to appreciate love of Godhead as the superior benediction.

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 todayThe Lord’s Mercy Liberates Devotees and DemonsThis 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 11.5.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.