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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 11.7.5

Who is speaking and story frame

न वस्तव्यं त्वयैवेह मया त्यक्ते महीतले ।

जनोऽभद्ररुचिर्भद्र भविष्यति कलौ युगे ॥ ५ ॥

na vastavyaṁ tvayaiveha

mayā tyakte mahī-tale

jano ’bhadra-rucir bhadra

bhaviṣyati kalau yuge

Translation

My dear Uddhava, you should not remain here on the earth once I have abandoned this world. My dear devotee, you are sinless, but in Kali-yuga the people will be addicted to all types of sinful activities; therefore do not stay here.

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.

Turn Kali’s Pressures Toward Surrender

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa told His sinless devotee Uddhava not to remain on earth after His departure. People in Kali-yuga would become addicted to sinful activities.

  2. 2

    Ignoring the Lord’s authority, people become absorbed in quarrel, anger, lust and frustration. Devotees instead engage in ever-increasing loving service to Him.

  3. 3

    The pressures of Kali-yuga can help us understand the uselessness of seeking lasting fulfillment in the material world. Following Uddhava, we should surrender to Kṛṣṇa and go back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa advised Uddhava not to remain on the earth in Kali-yuga.
  • Therefore every living being should take advantage of the pressures of Kali-yuga to understand the overall useless nature of the material world and surrender himself at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Following in the footsteps of Śrī Uddhava, one should surrender to Kṛṣṇa and go back home, back to Godhead.

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:

After hearing Uddhava’s prayerful request to be taken back with Him to the spiritual world, Lord Kṛṣṇa informed him that He was indeed desirous of returning to His own personal abode because the purpose of His descent had been successfully fulfilled and the misfortunes of Kali-yuga would soon beset the earth. He thus advised Uddhava to take up sannyāsa by fixing his mind upon Him and establishing himself in theoretical and realized transcendental knowledge.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. vastavyamshould remain
  3. tvayāyou
  4. evacertainly
  5. ihain this world
  6. mayāby Me
  7. tyaktewhen it is abandoned
  8. mahītalethe earth
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lust”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.7

    In this verse: “sinful”

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 could a present frustration become a reminder to seek shelter in Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

When frustration arises today, pause and offer a brief prayer of surrender to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTurn Kali’s Pressures Toward SurrenderThis 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 11.7.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.