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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 ›
Canto 11 · Chapter 6: The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa
11.6.4211.6.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.43

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
A turning point forUddhava· An impending departure

नाहं तवाङ्‍‍घ्रिकमलं क्षणार्धमपि केशव ।

त्यक्तुं समुत्सहे नाथ स्वधाम नय मामपि ॥ ४३ ॥

nāhaṁ tavāṅghri-kamalaṁ

kṣaṇārdham api keśava

tyaktuṁ samutsahe nātha

sva-dhāma naya mām api

Translation

O Lord Keśava, my dear master, I cannot tolerate giving up Your lotus feet even for a fraction of a moment. I urge You to take me along with You to Your own abode.

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.

Seek Uninterrupted Personal Service to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Uddhava begs to accompany Kṛṣṇa to His abode so that his personal service will not be interrupted even for a moment.

  2. 2

    He does not desire to merge into Kṛṣṇa’s impersonal effulgence. The pure devotee seeks the Lord’s association and service, not liberation for its own sake.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa Himself empowered the brāhmaṇas and maintained their curse, though He could neutralize it. He is always the Supreme Personality of Godhead, beyond material illusion or weakness.

Key points from the purport
  • Uddhava understood that Kṛṣṇa was going to withdraw the Yadu dynasty, and thus he begged the Lord to take him along to the Lord’s abode.
  • Similarly, Uddhava is urging the Lord to take him to His own abode so that Uddhava’s personal service to the Lord’s lotus feet will not be interrupted even for a moment.
  • Therefore in the beginning, middle and end, directly and indirectly, in the past, present and future, Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He is completely transcendental to even the slightest touch of material illusion or impotence.

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:

Persons who engage constantly in Kṛṣṇa’s service — while eating, sporting, sleeping, sitting, etc. — cannot tolerate separation from Kṛṣṇa. They honor all kinds of remnants from Śrī Kṛṣṇa and thus conquer the Lord’s illusory energy.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. naam not
  2. ahamI
  3. tavaYour
  4. aṅghri-kamalamlotus feet
  5. kṣaṇaof a moment
  6. ardhamfor half
  7. apieven
  8. keśavaO killer of the demon Keśī
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my deepest wish personal relief, or the opportunity to continue serving Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking Kṛṣṇa for the chance to serve Him, following Uddhava’s example.

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 todaySeek Uninterrupted Personal Service to KṛṣṇaThis 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 11.6.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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