1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 7: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Uddhava
11.6.5011.7.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.7.1

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.7.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

yad āttha māṁ mahā-bhāga

tac-cikīrṣitam eva me

brahmā bhavo loka-pālāḥ

svar-vāsaṁ me ’bhikāṅkṣiṇaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O greatly fortunate Uddhava, you have accurately revealed My desire to withdraw the Yadu dynasty from the earth and return to My own abode in Vaikuṇṭha. Thus Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and all other planetary rulers are now praying for Me to resume My residence in Vaikuṇṭha.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Basis of Everything

  1. 1

    Uddhava accurately understood Kṛṣṇa’s desire to withdraw the Yadu dynasty and return to Vaikuṇṭha. Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the other planetary rulers were praying for His return.

  2. 2

    The demigods govern within the material universe and are under māyā’s influence. Lord Viṣṇu controls māyā, and His abode, Vaikuṇṭha, lies beyond her kingdom.

  3. 3

    Lord Viṣṇu is a plenary expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the original source of all spiritual expansions and living entities. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is therefore the basis of everything.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Lord Viṣṇu is sometimes counted among the demigods, His abode is in Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual sky.
  • The demigods are universal controllers within the kingdom of māyā, but Viṣṇu is the Lord of the illusory potency and many other spiritual potencies.
  • Lord Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead, is the Supreme Lord of all lords; the demigods are His separated parts and parcels.

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

Grief and dependence → Detachment. The temporary world becomes a source of spiritual instruction.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 11: The avadhuta's twenty-four teachers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Uddhava

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As described in this chapter, the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, replied to Uddhava’s prayerful entreaty that he be allowed to return with Him to His abode. Kṛṣṇa advised Uddhava to take to the renounced order of sannyāsa, and when Uddhava showed interest in more elaborate instructions, the Lord further described the avadhūta’s account of his twenty-four spiritual masters.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. yatthat which
  3. ātthayou spoke
  4. māmto Me
  5. mahā-bhāgaO greatly fortunate Uddhava
  6. tatthat
  7. cikīrṣitamthe program that I am desiring to execute
  8. evacertainly
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “rulers”, “kingdom”, “govern”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “māyā’s”, “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does recognizing Kṛṣṇa as the source of everything deepen your devotion to Him?

Practice

Pause today to remember that every extraordinary ability or position ultimately depends on Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Basis of EverythingThis 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 11.7.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories