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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 · Text 11.7.13

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्यादिष्टो भगवता महाभागवतो नृप ।

उद्धव: प्रणिपत्याह तत्त्वंजिज्ञासुरच्युतम् ॥ १३ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity ādiṣṭo bhagavatā

mahā-bhāgavato nṛpa

uddhavaḥ praṇipatyāha

tattvaṁ jijñāsur acyutam

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmi said: O King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, thus instructed His pure devotee Uddhava, who was eager to receive knowledge from the Lord. Uddhava then offered obeisances to the Lord and spoke as follows.

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 Knowledge to Deepen Loving Service

  1. 1

    Uddhava, a pure devotee, eagerly receives instruction from Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Before speaking, he offers the Lord obeisances.

  2. 2

    Uddhava already considers devotional service to Kṛṣṇa the perfection of life. With the Lord about to leave the earth, he longs to deepen his understanding and advance in loving service.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee does not seek knowledge for personal gratification. The desire to know the truth supports deeper devotion at the Lord’s lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • It is clear from previous verses that Śrī Uddhava is a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa and that he considers devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa to be the perfection of life.
  • Thus the words tattvaṁ jijñāsuḥ indicate that since Lord Kṛṣṇa is about to leave the earth, Uddhava is most anxious to deepen his understanding of the Lord so that he may further advance in loving service at the Lord’s lotus feet.
  • Unlike an ordinary philosopher or scholar, a pure devotee is not eager to acquire knowledge for personal 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

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:

For this reason the human form of life is most dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this regard, Lord Kṛṣṇa began to describe an ancient conversation between a brāhmaṇa avadhūta and the great king Yadu.
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-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itithus
  3. ādiṣṭaḥinstructed
  4. bhagavatāby the Supreme Lord
  5. mahā-bhāgavataḥthe exalted devotee of the Lord
  6. nṛpaO King
  7. uddhavaḥUddhava
  8. praṇipatyaafter bowing down to offer respects
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understanding”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotional service”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “king”

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

Is my study helping me serve Kṛṣṇa more lovingly, or mainly satisfying my desire to know?

Practice

Before studying today, offer respects to Kṛṣṇa and resolve to learn for the sake of loving service.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Knowledge to Deepen Loving ServiceThis 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 11.7.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.