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
1.11.151.11.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 1.11.16-17

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

निशम्य प्रेष्ठमायान्तं वसुदेवो महामना: ।

अक्रूरश्चोग्रसेनश्च रामश्चाद्भुतविक्रम: ॥ १६ ॥

प्रद्युम्नश्चारुदेष्णश्च साम्बो जाम्बवतीसुत: ।

प्रहर्षवेगोच्छशितशयनासनभोजना: ॥ १७ ॥

niśamya preṣṭham āyāntaṁ

vasudevo mahā-manāḥ

akrūraś cograsenaś ca

rāmaś cādbhuta-vikramaḥ

pradyumnaś cārudeṣṇaś ca

sāmbo jāmbavatī-sutaḥ

praharṣa-vegocchaśita-

śayanāsana-bhojanāḥ

Translation

On hearing that the most dear Kṛṣṇa was approaching Dvārakā-dhāma, magnanimous Vasudeva, Akrūra, Ugrasena, Balarāma (the superhumanly powerful), Pradyumna, Cārudeṣṇa and Sāmba the son of Jāmbavatī, all extremely happy, abandoned resting, sitting and dining.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Welcome Kṛṣṇa With Joyful Devotion

  1. 1

    Hearing that their dearmost Kṛṣṇa was approaching, His relatives and companions became extremely happy. They immediately left resting, sitting and dining.

  2. 2

    Akrūra was a great devotee who attained success in devotional service through the single process of offering prayers.

  3. 3

    Baladeva is the plenary manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as good and powerful as Lord Kṛṣṇa. He bestows spiritual strength, which, unlike bodily strength, is never wasted.

Key points from the purport
  • Vasudeva: Son of King Śūrasena, husband of Devakī and father of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • So Nanda Mahārāja is also the foster father of Baladeva along with Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • He was also present along with his father, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, during the aśvamedha-yajña performed by Yudhiṣṭhira.

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. niśamyajust hearing
  2. preṣṭhamthe dearmost
  3. āyāntamcoming home
  4. vasudevaḥVasudeva (the father of Kṛṣṇa)
  5. mahā-manāḥthe magnanimous
  6. akrūraḥAkrūra
  7. caand
  8. ugrasenaḥUgrasena
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: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “companions”

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 can I learn from their eagerness to leave ordinary comforts to welcome Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Pause one leisure activity today to offer a short, sincere prayer to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.11's connections

Live this todayWelcome Kṛṣṇa With Joyful DevotionThis 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 1.11.16-17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.