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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 6: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa
11.6.1511.6.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.16

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

त्वत्त: पुमान् समधिगम्य ययास्य वीर्यं

धत्ते महान्तमिव गर्भममोघवीर्य: ।

सोऽयं तयानुगत आत्मन आण्डकोशं

हैमं ससर्ज बहिरावरणैरुपेतम् ॥ १६ ॥

tvattaḥ pumān samadhigamya yayāsya vīryaṁ

dhatte mahāntam iva garbham amogha-vīryaḥ

so ’yaṁ tayānugata ātmana āṇḍa-kośaṁ

haimaṁ sasarja bahir āvaraṇair upetam

Translation

My dear Lord, the original puruṣa-avatāra, Mahā-Viṣṇu, acquires His creative potency from You. Thus with infallible energy He impregnates material nature, producing the mahat-tattva. Then the mahat-tattva, the amalgamated material energy, endowed with the potency of the Lord, produces from itself the primeval golden egg of the universe, which is covered by various layers of material elements.

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 Is the Source of Mahā-Viṣṇu

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is the source of Mahā-Viṣṇu, the greatest Viṣṇu incarnation. Mahā-Viṣṇu receives His creative potency from Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    With this infallible potency, Mahā-Viṣṇu impregnates material nature, producing the mahat-tattva, the amalgamated material energy. Empowered by the Lord, it produces the golden egg of the universe with its material coverings.

  3. 3

    The purport rejects the idea that Kṛṣṇa is an expansion of Viṣṇu. The demigods, headed by Brahmā, acknowledge Kṛṣṇa’s supreme position.

Key points from the purport
  • In the previous verses the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead has been established in relation to the living entity and material nature.
  • In this verse it is clearly stated that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the source of the greatest Viṣṇu incarnation, Mahā-Viṣṇu, and that Mahā-Viṣṇu acquires His creative potency from Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • It would therefore be foolish to surmise that Lord Kṛṣṇa is an expansion of Viṣṇu.

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:

Kṛṣṇa creates the universe by empowering His expansion Mahā-Viṣṇu. Although Kṛṣṇa creates, maintains and destroys this world through His material energy, He remains transcendental to the material energy and perfectly self-satisfied.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvattaḥfrom You
  2. pumānthe puruṣa-avatāra, Mahā-Viṣṇu
  3. samadhigamyaobtaining
  4. yayāalong with which (material nature)
  5. asyaof this creation
  6. vīryamthe potential seed
  7. dhatteHe impregnates
  8. mahāntamthe mahat-tattva, the raw amalgamation of matter
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does recognizing Kṛṣṇa as the source of creative potency deepen my reverence for Him?

Practice

Read the translation once more, then offer a short prayer acknowledging Kṛṣṇa as the source of Mahā-Viṣṇu’s creative potency.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Source of Mahā-ViṣṇuThis 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 11.6.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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