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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
11.6.40-4111.6.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.42

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.6.42inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

श्रीउद्धव उवाच

देवदेवेश योगेश पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन ।

संहृत्यैतत् कुलं नूनं लोकं सन्त्यक्ष्यते भवान् ।

विप्रशापं समर्थोऽपि प्रत्यहन्न यदीश्वर: ॥ ४२ ॥

śrī-uddhava uvāca

deva-deveśa yogeśa

puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtana

saṁhṛtyaitat kulaṁ nūnaṁ

lokaṁ santyakṣyate bhavān

vipra-śāpaṁ samartho ’pi

pratyahan na yad īśvaraḥ

Translation

Śrī Uddhava said: O my Lord, O supreme God among all the demigods, real piety is invoked simply by hearing and chanting Your transcendental glories. My Lord, it appears that You will now withdraw Your dynasty, and thus You Yourself will finally give up Your pastimes within this universe. You are the supreme controller and the master of all mystic power. But although You are fully capable of counteracting the brāhmaṇas’ curse against Your dynasty, You are not doing so, and Your disappearance is imminent.

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.

Hear Kṛṣṇa’s Glories and Recognize His Will

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s own dynasty can never be destroyed. Its apparent destruction is actually His withdrawal of the Yādavas as He leaves the material world.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa revealed His transcendental form and pastimes for His devotees’ pleasure. Through accounts of those pastimes, future generations can hear and chant about Him and return to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Uddhava understands that Kṛṣṇa could neutralize the curse simply by His word. His choice not to do so indicates His intention to leave, not any lack of power.

Key points from the purport
  • As previously mentioned, Kṛṣṇa’s own dynasty can never be destroyed; therefore the word saṁhṛtya means that Kṛṣṇa was taking the Yādavas with Him as He left this material world.
  • Uddhava could understand the Lord’s desire and said to Kṛṣṇa, “You have instructed the Yādavas to counteract the brāhmaṇas’ curse by taking bath at Prabhāsakṣetra, but how could mere bathing in a holy place be of greater value than seeing You, the Personality of Godhead, face to face?
  • Since the Yādavas are always seeing Your transcendental form, and since You are the Supreme Lord, what is the use of their taking bath in a so-called holy place?

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:

Observing terrible disturbances indicating the imminent destruction of the world, Lord Kṛṣṇa called together the wise members of the Yadu dynasty and reminded them of the brāhmaṇas’ curse. The Lord convinced them to go to Prabhāsa-tīrtha, where they could save themselves by the performance of ritual bathing, charity, and so on.
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-uddhavaḥ uvācaŚrī Uddhava said
  2. deva-devaof the greatest among the demigods
  3. īśaO ultimate God
  4. yoga-īśaO master of all mystic power
  5. puṇyawhich are pious
  6. śravaṇa-kīrtanaO You, hearing and chanting the glories of whom
  7. saṁhṛtyawithdrawing
  8. etatthis
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”, “chant”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “give up”

  • 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 does hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s glories help me appreciate His purpose and power?

Practice

Read aloud one sentence from this translation glorifying Kṛṣṇa, then reflect on its meaning.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Kṛṣṇa’s Glories and Recognize His WillThis 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 11.6.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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