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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.6.48-49

Who is speaking and story frame

वयं त्विह महायोगिन् भ्रमन्त: कर्मवर्त्मसु ।

त्वद्वार्तया तरिष्यामस्तावकैर्दुस्तरं तम: ॥ ४८ ॥

स्मरन्त: कीर्तयन्तस्ते कृतानि गदितानि च ।

गत्युत्स्मितेक्षणक्ष्वेलि यन्नृलोकविडम्बनम् ॥ ४९ ॥

vayaṁ tv iha mahā-yogin

bhramantaḥ karma-vartmasu

tvad-vārtayā tariṣyāmas

tāvakair dustaraṁ tamaḥ

smarantaḥ kīrtayantas te

kṛtāni gaditāni ca

gaty-utsmitekṣaṇa-kṣveli

yan nṛ-loka-viḍambanam

Translation

O greatest of mystics, although we are conditioned souls wandering on the path of fruitive work, we will certainly cross beyond the darkness of this material world simply by hearing about Your Lordship in the association of Your devotees. Thus we are always remembering and glorifying the wonderful things You do and the wonderful things You say. We ecstatically recall Your amorous pastimes with Your confidential conjugal devotees and how You boldly smile and move about while engaged in such youthful pastimes. My dear Lord, Your loving pastimes are bewilderingly similar to the activities of ordinary people within this material world.

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, Remember and Glorify Kṛṣṇa Together

  1. 1

    Uddhava humbly presents himself as a conditioned soul entangled in fruitive work. Yet he is confident of crossing illusion by hearing about Kṛṣṇa in the association of His devotees.

  2. 2

    Even someone who outwardly appears involved in the material world is considered liberated when always engaged in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service. Remembering and chanting His glorious activities and words is central to this service.

  3. 3

    Absorbing oneself in the incomparable bliss of thinking of the Lord’s abode brings freedom from lamentation, illusion and fear. Uddhava recommends remembering and glorifying the Lord’s pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse Uddhava, by stating bhramantaḥ karma-vartmasu, humbly presents himself as one of the conditioned souls entangled in fruitive activities.
  • Still, Uddhava is confident that he will certainly cross over the illusory energy because he is addicted to chanting and remembering the glorious activities and words of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Although one may outwardly appear to be involved in this material world, if one is always engaged, twenty-four hours a day, in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, then one is considered to be a liberated soul.

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:

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. vayamwe
  2. tuon the other hand
  3. ihain this world
  4. mahā-yoginO greatest of yogīs
  5. bhramantaḥwandering
  6. karma-vartmasuon the paths of material work
  7. tvatof You
  8. vārtayāby discussion of the topics
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”, “glorifying”, “chanting”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “illusion”

  • 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 could hearing about Kṛṣṇa with His devotees become a more regular part of my life?

Practice

Today, read a passage about Kṛṣṇa’s words or activities with a devotee, and share one thing you want to remember.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear, Remember and Glorify Kṛṣṇa TogetherThis 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 11.6.48-49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.