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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 6: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa
11.6.1211.6.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.13

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

केतुस्त्रिविक्रमयुतस्त्रिपतत्पताको

यस्ते भयाभयकरोऽसुरदेवचम्वो: ।

स्वर्गाय साधुषु खलेष्वितराय भूमन्

पाद: पुनातु भगवन् भजतामघं न: ॥ १३ ॥

ketus tri-vikrama-yutas tri-patat-patāko

yas te bhayābhaya-karo ’sura-deva-camvoḥ

svargāya sādhuṣu khaleṣv itarāya bhūman

padaḥ punātu bhagavan bhajatām aghaṁ naḥ

Translation

O omnipotent Lord, in Your incarnation as Trivikrama, You raised Your leg like a flagpole to break the shell of the universe, allowing the holy Ganges to flow down, like a banner of victory, in three branches throughout the three planetary systems. By three mighty steps of Your lotus feet, Your Lordship captured Bali Mahārāja, along with his universal kingdom. Your lotus feet inspire fear in the demons by driving them down to hell and fearlessness among Your devotees by elevating them to the perfection of heavenly life. We are sincerely trying to worship You, our Lord; therefore may Your lotus feet kindly free us from all of our sinful reactions.

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 Lotus Feet Purify

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared as Vāmana to reclaim the universal kingdom seized by Bali Mahārāja. His raised foot pierced the universal shell, allowing the holy Ganges to flow into the universe.

  2. 2

    The lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead are most pure, all-pervading and the oldest of all. One purified by them crosses over previous sinful activities.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s lotus feet bring fear to demons and fearlessness to devotees. Those sincerely worshiping Him pray to be freed from sinful reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • In order to reclaim for the demigods the universal kingdom seized by Bali Mahārāja, Lord Kṛṣṇa, as described in the Eighth Canto of this great work, appeared as the beautiful dwarf- brāhmaṇa Vāmana, who extended His foot upward to the outer limits of the universe.
  • When the Lord’s leg breached a hole in the universal shell, the holy Ganges water came flowing into the universe.
  • Throughout the universe the process of worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord is most famous.

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:

Therefore, intelligent persons situated in the varṇāśrama system serve the two kinds of holy places: the nectarean rivers of the topics of Kṛṣṇa and the nectarean rivers flowing from the Lord’s lotus feet. By incarnating within the Yadu dynasty, Kṛṣṇa performed the highest welfare work for the entire universe by displaying His transcendental pastimes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ketuḥa flagpole
  2. tri-vikramathree mighty steps in conquering Bali Mahārāja
  3. yataḥadorned by
  4. tri-patatfalling into each of the three planetary systems
  5. patākaḥthe flag upon which
  6. yaḥwhich
  7. teYour (lotus feet)
  8. bhaya-abhayafear and fearlessness
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worship”, “worshiping”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “sinful”, “purified”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “kindly”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make my worship of the Lord more sincere?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to the Lord’s lotus feet, asking for purification and sincerity in worship.

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 11.6's connections

Live this todayThe Lord’s Lotus Feet PurifyThis 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 11.6.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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