1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
11.5.5111.6.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.52

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 11.5.51inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं धारयेद् य: समाहित: ।

स विधूयेह शमलं ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ ५२ ॥

itihāsam imaṁ puṇyaṁ

dhārayed yaḥ samāhitaḥ

sa vidhūyeha śamalaṁ

brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

Translation

Anyone who meditates on this pious historical narration with fixed attention will purify himself of all contamination in this very life and thus achieve the highest spiritual perfection.

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.

Attentive Meditation Leads to Spiritual Perfection

  1. 1

    Anyone may meditate on this pious historical narration. The verse calls for fixed attention.

  2. 2

    Through such meditation, a person becomes purified of all contamination in this very life.

  3. 3

    The promised result is the highest spiritual perfection. Attentive meditation on this narration is therefore a spiritual practice with a profound goal.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Fifth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva.”

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:

Persons who give up all false ego and take full shelter of Lord Hari are no longer debtors to the demigods or anyone else. The Personality of Godhead, Śrī Hari, appears in the hearts of devotees who know no other shelter than Him and causelessly drives away all evil desires from the devotees’ hearts.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itihāsamhistorical account
  2. imamthis
  3. puṇyampious
  4. dhārayetmeditates upon
  5. yaḥwho
  6. samāhitaḥwith fixed attention
  7. saḥhe
  8. vidhūyacleaning off
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.5

    In this verse: “purify”, “contamination”, “purified”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “narration”

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 distraction can I set aside to give this narration my fixed attention?

Practice

Set aside two uninterrupted minutes today to meditate on one teaching from this narration.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttentive Meditation Leads to Spiritual PerfectionThis 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 11.5.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories