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

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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 ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 11: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance into Dvārakā
1.11.111.11.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The citizenssince 1.11.6inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सर्वर्तुसर्वविभवपुण्यवृक्षलताश्रमै: ।

उद्यानोपवनारामैर्वृतपद्माकरश्रियम् ॥ १२ ॥

sarvartu-sarva-vibhava-

puṇya-vṛkṣa-latāśramaiḥ

udyānopavanārāmair

vṛta-padmākara-śriyam

Translation

The city of Dvārakāpurī was filled with the opulences of all seasons. There were hermitages, orchards, flower gardens, parks and reservoirs of water breeding lotus flowers all over.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Civilization Should Nurture Spiritual Understanding

  1. 1

    Dvārakā was surrounded by fruit orchards, flower gardens, parks and reservoirs where lotuses grew. These gifts of nature enriched the whole residential area, not merely the homes of leaders.

  2. 2

    Advancement of civilization is measured by developing people's spiritual instincts and giving them a chance to go back to Godhead, not by increasing mills and factories.

  3. 3

    Human energy should develop the finer senses for spiritual understanding. The purport presents Dvārakā-dhāma as the ideal of human civilization.

Key points from the purport
  • As we find herewith in the description of its opulence, Dvārakā was surrounded by flower gardens and fruit orchards along with reservoirs of water and growing lotuses.
  • The leaders of modern civilization select their own residential quarters in a place where there are such naturally beautiful gardens and reservoirs of water, but they leave the common men to reside in congested areas without parks and gardens.
  • Fruits, flowers, beautiful gardens, parks and reservoirs of water with ducks and swans playing in the midst of lotus flowers, and cows giving sufficient milk and butter are essential for developing the finer tissues of the human body.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

Longing → Joy and continuity. Departure and welcome coexist; Parīkṣit embodies continuity of grace.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 1: Kṛṣṇa returns to Dvārakā; Parīkṣit is born. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance into Dvārakā

Dvārakā’s citizens and Kṛṣṇa’s family joyfully welcome Him home.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.11
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sarvaall
  2. ṛtuseasons
  3. sarvaall
  4. vibhavaopulences
  5. puṇyapious
  6. vṛkṣatrees
  7. latācreepers
  8. āśramaiḥwith hermitages
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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 1.11

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

Does my idea of progress leave room for spiritual understanding?

Practice

Spend five minutes in a natural setting today and reflect on making spiritual understanding a priority.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCivilization Should Nurture Spiritual UnderstandingThis 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 1.11.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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