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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
11.6.4611.6.48-49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.6.47

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

वातवसना य ऋषय: श्रमणा ऊर्ध्वमन्थिन: ।

ब्रह्माख्यं धाम ते यान्ति शान्ता: सन्न्यासीनोऽमला: ॥ ४७ ॥

vāta-vasanā ya ṛṣayaḥ

śramaṇā ūrdhra-manthinaḥ

brahmākhyaṁ dhāma te yānti

śāntāḥ sannyāsino ’malāḥ

Translation

Naked sages who seriously endeavor in spiritual practice, who have raised their semen upward, who are peaceful and sinless members of the renounced order, attain the spiritual abode called Brahman.

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 Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy Through His Holy Names

  1. 1

    Those attached to the impersonal feature of the Personality of Godhead undergo grueling penances to attain Brahman. Without taking shelter of the Lord, they fall back into the material world.

  2. 2

    Pure devotees easily cross the illusory energy because they are firmly attached to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. His causeless mercy is more valuable than millions and billions of years of personal struggle.

  3. 3

    One can receive Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mercy by constantly chanting His holy names while avoiding offenses against them. Uddhava desires the nectar of the Lord’s beautiful smile rather than impersonal realization.

Key points from the purport
  • In Chapter Twelve of Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, kleśo ’dhikataras teṣām avyaktāsakta-cetasām: those who are attached to the impersonal feature of the Personality of Godhead must endure grueling penances in order to achieve impersonal liberation in the realm of Brahman.
  • Therefore Uddhava is pointing out that, unlike the impersonalists and meditators, the pure devotees very easily cross over the illusory energy because they are totally attached to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
  • In this age one can achieve the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa by constantly chanting His holy name, as recommended in the śāstra:

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 2.17

In this verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.6.47), vāta-vāsanāḥ refers to mendicants who do not care about anything material, including clothing, but who depend wholly on nature.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

They honor all kinds of remnants from Śrī Kṛṣṇa and thus conquer the Lord’s illusory energy. Peaceful members of the renounced order attain Brahmaloka after exhaustive and painful exertion, whereas the devotees of the Lord simply discuss Lord Kṛṣṇa among themselves, chant and remember His various pastimes and instructions, and thus automatically cross beyond the insurmountable material 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. vāta-vasanāḥdressed by the air (naked)
  2. yethose who are
  3. ṛṣayaḥsages
  4. śramaṇāḥstrict observers of spiritual practices
  5. ūrdhva-manthinaḥwho have conserved their semen to the point that it has risen up to their heads
  6. brahma-ākhyamknown as Brahman
  7. dhāmathe (impersonal) spiritual abode
  8. tethey
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “renounced”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.6

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where am I relying only on my own strength instead of seeking Kṛṣṇa’s mercy?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today to chant Lord Kṛṣṇa’s holy names attentively and respectfully.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy Through His Holy NamesThis 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 11.6.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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