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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
11.6.3911.6.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.6.40-41

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 11.6.39inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तन्निरीक्ष्योद्धवो राजन् श्रुत्वा भगवतोदितम् ।

द‍ृष्ट्वारिष्टानि घोराणि नित्यं कृष्णमनुव्रत: ॥ ४० ॥

विविक्त उपसङ्गम्य जगतामीश्वरेश्वरम् ।

प्रणम्य शिरसा पादौ प्राञ्जलिस्तमभाषत ॥ ४१ ॥

tan nirīkṣyoddhavo rājan

śrutvā bhagavatoditam

dṛṣṭvāriṣṭāni ghorāṇi

nityaṁ kṛṣṇam anuvrataḥ

vivikta upasaṅgamya

jagatām īśvareśvaram

praṇamya śirasā pādau

prāñjalis tam abhāṣata

Translation

My dear King, Uddhava was a constantly faithful follower of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Upon seeing the imminent departure of the Yādavas, hearing from them of the Lord’s instructions and taking note of the fearful omens, he approached the Personality of Godhead in a private place. He bowed down with his head at the lotus feet of the supreme controller of the universe and with folded hands addressed Him as follows.

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.

Approach Kṛṣṇa Humbly and Hear From Ācāryas

  1. 1

    Uddhava, a constantly faithful follower, approaches Kṛṣṇa privately after noticing the preparations and fearful omens. He bows at the Lord’s lotus feet and speaks with folded hands.

  2. 2

    There can be no actual disturbance in the Lord’s own abode. The apparent disasters in Dvārakā are an external show arranged to facilitate His pastimes.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes can be understood only by hearing from recognized ācāryas. They reveal His inconceivable potency and cannot be confined within material logic.

Key points from the purport
  • We can understand the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa only by hearing from the recognized ācāryas.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa is not a mundane historical figure, and His activities cannot be confined within the tiny limits of material logic.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are an exhibition of His acintya-śakti, or inconceivable potency, which functions according to higher, spiritual laws, unknown to the blind conditioned souls and their petty material logic.

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:

Upon seeing and hearing the Lord’s conversation with the Yadu dynasty, Uddhava approached Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in a secluded place, offered Him full obeisances and, with folded hands, expressed his inability to tolerate separation from the Lord. He begged Kṛṣṇa to carry him to His own 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. tatthat
  2. nirīkṣyaseeing
  3. uddhavaḥUddhava
  4. rājanO King
  5. śrutvāhearing
  6. bhagavatāby the Lord
  7. uditamwhat had been said
  8. dṛṣṭvāobserving
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “fearful”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to learn about Kṛṣṇa from recognized ācāryas rather than rely only on my own reasoning?

Practice

Read this purport slowly, with the humble intention to learn rather than judge Kṛṣṇa by ordinary human limits.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayApproach Kṛṣṇa Humbly and Hear From ĀcāryasThis 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 11.6.40-41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.