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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 6: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa
11.6.1911.6.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 11.6.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच

इत्यभिष्टूय विबुधै: सेश: शतधृतिर्हरिम् ।

अभ्यभाषत गोविन्दं प्रणम्याम्बरमाश्रित: ॥ २० ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

ity abhiṣṭūya vibudhaiḥ

seśaḥ śata-dhṛtir harim

abhyabhāṣata govindaṁ

praṇamyāmbaram āśritaḥ

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After Brahmā, along with Lord Śiva and the other demigods, thus offered prayers to the Supreme Lord, Govinda, Lord Brahmā situated himself in the sky and addressed the Lord as follows.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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 Demigods Offer Prayers to Govinda

  1. 1

    Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes Brahmā offering prayers together with Lord Śiva and the other demigods.

  2. 2

    Their prayers are directed to Govinda, the Supreme Lord. He is the object of their praise.

  3. 3

    After these prayers, Brahmā situates himself in the sky and addresses the Lord. The verse introduces his next words to Govinda.

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:

This chapter describes how Brahmā and other demigods, after offering prayers to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, requested the Lord to return to His own abode and how Uddhava, anticipating separation from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was very distressed and prayed to Śrī Kṛṣṇa that he might accompany Him on His return to that abode.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itithus
  3. abhiṣṭūyapraising
  4. vibudhaiḥalong with all the demigods
  5. sa-īśaḥand also Lord Śiva
  6. śata-dhṛtiḥLord Brahmā
  7. harimthe Supreme Lord
  8. abhyabhāṣataspoke
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the demigods’ praise of Govinda inspire my own prayers?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to offer a simple prayer praising Govinda as the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Demigods Offer Prayers to GovindaThis 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.

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