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 6: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa
11.6.911.6.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.10

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 11.6.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स्यान्नस्तवाङ्‍‍घ्रिरशुभाशयधूमकेतु:

क्षेमाय यो मुनिभिरार्द्रहृदोह्यमान: ।

य: सात्वतै: समविभूतय आत्मवद्भ‍ि-

र्व्यूहेऽर्चित: सवनश: स्वरतिक्रमाय ॥ १० ॥

syān nas tavāṅghrir aśubhāśaya-dhūmaketuḥ

kṣemāya yo munibhir ārdra-hṛdohyamānaḥ

yaḥ sātvataiḥ sama-vibhūtaya ātmavadbhir

vyūhe ’rcitaḥ savanaśaḥ svar-atikramāya

Translation

Great sages, desiring the highest benefit in life, always cherish Your lotus feet within their hearts, which are melted by love for You. Similarly, Your self-controlled devotees, desiring to cross beyond the material kingdom of heaven to achieve opulence equal to Yours, worship Your lotus feet in the morning, at noon and in the evening. Thus, they meditate upon Your Lordship in Your quadruple expansion. Your lotus feet are just like a blazing fire that burns to ashes all the inauspicious desires for material sense gratification.

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.

Remember Kṛṣṇa and Find Lasting Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Our material desires are temporary, while our loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternal. Pure devotional service completely satisfies the heart.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are like a blazing fire that destroys ignorance and desires for material sense gratification. In His abode, liberated devotees receive opulence for serving Him.

  3. 3

    Understanding that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa frees us from the desire to exploit it selfishly. Remembering His lotus feet morning, noon and evening leads toward real, blissful life beyond illusion.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva is the master of the mode of ignorance, and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are compared to the comet, a symbol of the potency of Śiva, which can destroy all ignorance within the heart.
  • Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord, the master of everyone and the reservoir of all opulences, and one should remember His lotus feet in the morning, at noon and in the evening.
  • One who always remembers Kṛṣṇa and never forgets Him will experience real, blissful life beyond the pale shadow of material illusion.

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 6: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

But the most elevated devotees, who desire liberation from the bondage of material work, lovingly contemplate the Lord’s lotuslike feet because those feet are the fire that destroys all desires for sense gratification. One cannot actually purify the mind by ordinary worship, penance and other such processes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. syātmay they be
  2. naḥfor us
  3. tavaYour
  4. aṅghriḥthe lotus feet
  5. aśubha-āśayaof our inauspicious mentality
  6. dhūma-ketuḥthe annihilating fire
  7. kṣemāyafor achieving real benefit
  8. yaḥwhich
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 11.6

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”, “illusion”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “kingdom”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How would I use what I have if I remembered that it belongs to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

At your next morning, noon or evening pause, spend one minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemember Kṛṣṇa and Find Lasting SatisfactionThis 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 11.6.10? 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