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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

11.7.1 11.7.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.7.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

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

मया निष्पादितं ह्यत्र देवकार्यमशेषत: ।

यदर्थमवतीर्णोऽहमंशेन ब्रह्मणार्थित: ॥ २ ॥

mayā niṣpāditaṁ hy atra

deva-kāryam aśeṣataḥ

yad-artham avatīrṇo ’ham

aṁśena brahmaṇārthitaḥ

Translation

Answering the prayer of Lord Brahmā, I descended within this world along with My plenary portion, Lord Baladeva, and performed various activities on behalf of the demigods. I have now completed My mission here.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Completes His Mission

1
Kṛṣṇa descended into this world in answer to Lord Brahmā’s prayer.
2
He came with His plenary portion, Lord Baladeva, and performed various activities for the benefit of the demigods.
3
Kṛṣṇa declared that His mission in this world was now completely accomplished.

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

Chapter 7: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Uddhava

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Even great demigods like Brahmā are not completely surrendered to the Lord, but Uddhava declared that he himself had taken shelter of the only true instructor of the Absolute Truth — Lord Nārāyaṇa, the all-perfect, all-knowing master of Vaikuṇṭha and the only real friend of all living entities. Hearing this, the Supreme Lord replied that actually the jīva soul is his own guru.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.7