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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.6.2-4

Who is speaking and story frame

इन्द्रो मरुद्भ‍िर्भगवानादित्या वसवोऽश्विनौ ।

ऋभवोऽङ्गिरसो रुद्रा विश्वे साध्याश्च देवता: ॥ २ ॥

गन्धर्वाप्सरसो नागा: सिद्धचारणगुह्यका: ।

ऋषय: पितरश्चैव सविद्याधरकिन्नरा: ॥ ३ ॥

द्वारकामुपसञ्जग्मु: सर्वे कृष्णदिद‍ृक्षव: ।

वपुषा येन भगवान् नरलोकमनोरम: ।

यशो वितेने लोकेषु सर्वलोकमलापहम् ॥ ४ ॥

indro marudbhir bhagavān

ādityā vasavo ’śvinau

ṛbhavo ’ṅgiraso rudrā

viśve sādhyāś ca devatāḥ

gandharvāpsaraso nāgāḥ

siddha-cāraṇa-guhyakāḥ

ṛṣayaḥ pitaraś caiva

sa-vidyādhara-kinnarāḥ

dvārakām upasañjagmuḥ

sarve kṛṣṇa-didṛkṣavaḥ

vapuṣā yena bhagavān

nara-loka-manoramaḥ

yaśo vitene lokeṣu

sarva-loka-malāpaham

Translation

The powerful Lord Indra, along with the Maruts, Ādityas, Vasus, Aśvinīs, Ṛbhus, Aṅgirās, Rudras, Viśvedevas, Sādhyas, Gandharvas, Apsarās, Nāgas, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Guhyakas, the great sages and forefathers and the Vidyādharas and Kinnaras, arrived at the city of Dvārakā, hoping to see Lord Kṛṣṇa. By His transcendental form, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, enchanted all human beings and spread His own fame throughout the worlds. The Lord’s glories destroy all contamination within the universe.

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’s Transcendental Form Enchants Everyone

  1. 1

    The demigods were accustomed to seeing various Viṣṇu expansions, yet they were especially eager to see the most beautiful form of Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    There is no distinction between the Supreme Lord and His personal body. Unlike the living soul, who is different from his body, Kṛṣṇa is identical with His transcendental form.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, enchanted human beings and spread His fame throughout the worlds. His glories destroy all contamination within the universe.

Key points from the purport
  • The Personality of Godhead descends within the material world to assist the demigods in the cosmic management; thus the demigods can normally see such forms of the Lord as Upendra.
  • However, here it is indicated that although accustomed to seeing various Viṣṇu expansions of the Lord, the demigods were specifically eager to see the most beautiful form of the Lord as Kṛṣṇa.
  • The jīva soul is different from his body, but the beautiful, transcendental form of the Lord is identical with the Lord in all respects.

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:

Desiring to see Śrī Kṛṣṇa in His humanlike form, which enchants all the worlds, the Gandharvas, Apsarās, Nāgas, Ṛṣis, Pitās, Vidyādharas, Kinnaras and other demigods, all headed by Brahmā, Śiva and Indra, arrived at the city of Dvārakā. Covering the body of Kṛṣṇa with flower garlands from the Nandana gardens of heaven, they praised Him with statements about His transcendental power and qualities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. indraḥLord Indra
  2. marudbhiḥalong with the wind-gods
  3. bhagavānthe powerful controller
  4. ādityāḥthe twelve principal demigods, all sons of Aditi
  5. vasavaḥthe eight Vasu demigods
  6. aśvinauthe two Aśvinī-kumāras
  7. ṛbhavaḥthe Ṛbhus
  8. aṅgirasaḥthe descendants of Aṅgirā Muni
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “contamination”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that Kṛṣṇa’s form is transcendental change my understanding of Him?

Practice

Spend a minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s beautiful form and rereading the statement about His purifying glories.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Transcendental Form Enchants EveryoneThis 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 11.6.2-4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.