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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
1.11.141.11.16-17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.15

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

द्वारि द्वारि गृहाणां च दध्यक्षतफलेक्षुभि: ।

अलङ्‍कृतां पूर्णकुम्भैर्बलिभिर्धूपदीपकै: ॥ १५ ॥

dvāri dvāri gṛhāṇāṁ ca

dadhy-akṣata-phalekṣubhiḥ

alaṅkṛtāṁ pūrṇa-kumbhair

balibhir dhūpa-dīpakaiḥ

Translation

In each and every door of the residential houses, auspicious things like curd, unbroken fruits, sugarcane and full waterpots with articles for worship, incense and candles were all displayed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship and Sharing Complete the Welcome

  1. 1

    Every household was ready to receive the Lord with auspicious articles and offerings. The reception was not merely outward decoration.

  2. 2

    The residents worshiped the Lord with incense, lamps, flowers, sweets and fruits according to their capacity. A warm reception did not depend on everyone offering the same amount.

  3. 3

    Food was first offered to the Lord, and its remnants were distributed among the citizens. The purport explains that no function is complete without distributing food.

Key points from the purport
  • The process of reception according to Vedic rites is not at all dry.
  • The reception was made not simply by decorating the roads and streets as above mentioned, but by worshiping the Lord with requisite ingredients like incense, lamps, flowers, sweets, fruits and other palatable eatables, according to one’s capacity.
  • Each and every house was ready to receive the Lord in a similar way, and thus each and every house on the roads and streets distributed such remnants of food to the citizens, and therefore the festival was successful.

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. dvāri dvārithe door of each and every house
  2. gṛhāṇāmof all the residential buildings
  3. caand
  4. dadhicurd
  5. akṣataunbroken
  6. phalafruit
  7. ikṣubhiḥsugarcane
  8. alaṅkṛtāmdecorated
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “worship”, “worshiped”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “sweets”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “household”

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 can I worship the Lord according to my capacity and share with others?

Practice

Offer a piece of fruit to the Lord today, then share the offered food with someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship and Sharing Complete the WelcomeThis 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 1.11.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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