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
11.6.1711.6.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.18

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

स्मायावलोकलवदर्शितभावहारि-

भ्रूमण्डलप्रहितसौरतमन्त्रशौण्डै: ।

पत्न्‍यस्तु षोडशसहस्रमनङ्गबाणै-

र्यस्येन्द्रियं विमथितुं करणैर्न विभ्व्य: ॥ १८ ॥

smāyāvaloka-lava-darśita-bhāva-hāri-

bhrū-maṇḍala-prahita-saurata-mantra-śauṇḍaiḥ

patnyas tu ṣoḍaśa-sahasram anaṅga-bāṇair

yasyendriyaṁ vimathituṁ karaṇair na vibhvyaḥ

Translation

My Lord, You are living with sixteen thousand exquisitely beautiful, aristocratic wives. By their irresistible coy and smiling glances and by their lovely arching eyebrows, they send You messages of eager conjugal love. But they are completely unable to disturb the mind and senses of Your Lordship.

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 Reciprocates Love Without Lust

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is complete in Himself and the reservoir of all pleasure. Even His sixteen thousand beautiful wives cannot disturb His mind and senses.

  2. 2

    Although Kṛṣṇa may be conquered by His devotees’ intense love, He is never driven by ordinary lust. He reciprocates spiritual loving affairs simply for His devotees’ sake.

  3. 3

    As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa possesses the highest perfection of beauty, strength, wealth, fame, knowledge and renunciation. Everyone should recognize His transcendental position and surrender to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa may be conquered by our intense love for Him, and thus pure devotees can control the Lord.
  • Thus neither the gopīs of Vṛndāvana nor the queens of Dvārakā could arouse an enjoying spirit in Kṛṣṇa.
  • But both the gopīs and the queens are overwhelmed with love for Kṛṣṇa.

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:

Even in the midst of His sixteen thousand queens, Lord Kṛṣṇa is undisturbed. Performers of fruitive sacrifices and yogīs desiring mystic power contemplate the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa to attain their materialistic objectives.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. smāyasmiling
  2. avalokaof a glance
  3. lavaby fractions
  4. darśitahaving shown
  5. bhāvatheir feelings
  6. hārienchanting
  7. bhrū-maṇḍalaby which arch of the eyebrows
  8. prahitalaunched
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “lovely”, “love”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lust”, “wealth”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees’”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I remember that Kṛṣṇa’s loving exchanges are different from ordinary desires?

Practice

Offer Kṛṣṇa a short prayer of love and surrender, remembering that He is already fully satisfied in Himself.

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 todayKṛṣṇa Reciprocates Love Without LustThis 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 11.6.18? 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