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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
11.6.4411.6.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.45

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.6.42inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

शय्यासनाटनस्थानस्न‍ानक्रीडाशनादिषु ।

कथं त्वां प्रियमात्मानं वयं भक्तास्त्यजेमहि ॥ ४५ ॥

śayyāsanāṭana-sthāna-

snāna-krīḍāśanādiṣu

kathaṁ tvāṁ priyam ātmānaṁ

vayaṁ bhaktās tyajema hi

Translation

My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Soul, and thus You are most dear to us. We are Your devotees, and how can we possibly reject You or live without You even for a moment? Whether we are lying down, sitting, walking, standing, bathing, enjoying recreation, eating or doing anything else, we are constantly engaged in Your service.

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.

Serve Kṛṣṇa Throughout Daily Life

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Soul and most dear to His devotees. They remain engaged in His service while resting, walking, bathing, eating and doing other activities.

  2. 2

    By hearing about Kṛṣṇa and serving Him, we can give up the illusion of enjoying anything separately from Him.

  3. 3

    Neglecting hearing and service allows the mind to become bewildered. Seeing the world as separate from Kṛṣṇa and meant for our own enjoyment brings only trouble.

Key points from the purport
  • One should be constantly engaged in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • By hearing about Kṛṣṇa and by serving Him, we can give up the illusion of trying to enjoy something separately from the Supreme Lord.
  • If we neglect such hearing and serving, our minds will become bewildered by the illusory energy of the Lord, and seeing the world as separate from Kṛṣṇa, we will take it as a place meant for our own sense gratification.

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. sayyāin lying down
  2. āsanasitting
  3. aṭanawalking
  4. sthānastanding
  5. snānabathing
  6. krīḍātaking recreation
  7. āsanaeating
  8. ādiṣuand other activities
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which ordinary part of my day could become a more conscious opportunity to serve Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

During one walk today, hear about Kṛṣṇa and remember that daily activities can be part of His service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe Kṛṣṇa Throughout Daily LifeThis 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 11.6.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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