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 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

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 1 · Chapter 11: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance into Dvārakā
1.11.131.11.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.14

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

सम्मार्जितमहामार्गरथ्यापणकचत्वराम् ।

सिक्तां गन्धजलैरुप्तां फलपुष्पाक्षताङ्कुरै: ॥ १४ ॥

sammārjita-mahā-mārga-

rathyāpaṇaka-catvarām

siktāṁ gandha-jalair uptāṁ

phala-puṣpākṣatāṅkuraiḥ

Translation

The highways, subways, lanes, markets and public meeting places were all thoroughly cleansed and then moistened with scented water. And to welcome the Lord, fruits, flowers and unbroken seeds were strewn everywhere.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prepare Clean Spaces to Welcome the Lord

  1. 1

    The highways, lanes, markets and public meeting places were thoroughly cleansed. Welcoming the Lord involved careful preparation of shared spaces.

  2. 2

    The streets were moistened with scented waters distilled from flowers such as rose and keora. Dvārakā-dhāma's many public places were beautifully decorated.

  3. 3

    Fruits, flowers and unbroken seeds of grain were strewn in public places to welcome the Lord. The purport explains that unbroken grain and fruits in the seedling stage were considered auspicious.

Key points from the purport
  • Such places, along with the marketplace and public meeting places, were thoroughly cleansed.
  • From the above description, it appears that the city of Dvārakā-dhāma was considerably big, containing many highways, streets and public meeting places with parks, gardens and reservoirs of water, all very nicely decorated with flowers and fruits.
  • And to welcome the Lord such flowers and fruits with unbroken seeds of grain were also strewn over the public places.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sammārjitathoroughly cleansed
  2. mahā-mārgahighways
  3. rathyalanes and subways
  4. āpaṇakashopping marketplaces
  5. catvarāmpublic meeting places
  6. siktāmmoistened with
  7. gandha-jalaiḥscented water
  8. uptāmwas strewn with
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “cleansed”

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

What does careful preparation reveal about my desire to welcome the Lord?

Practice

Thoroughly clean one small place used for worship today as a way of welcoming the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPrepare Clean Spaces to Welcome the LordThis 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 1.11.14? 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