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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

1.11.18 1.11.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.19

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

वारमुख्याश्च शतशो यानैस्तद्दर्शनोत्सुका: ।

लसत्कुण्डलनिर्भातकपोलवदनश्रिय: ॥ १९ ॥

vāramukhyāś ca śataśo

yānais tad-darśanotsukāḥ

lasat-kuṇḍala-nirbhāta-

kapola-vadana-śriyaḥ

Translation

At the same time, many hundreds of well-known prostitutes began to proceed on various vehicles. They were all very eager to meet the Lord, and their beautiful faces were decorated with dazzling earrings, which enhanced the beauty of their foreheads.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is Open to Everyone

1
The prostitutes of Dvārakā were eager to meet the Lord. The purport teaches that devotees must not be hated because of their occupation.
2
Devotional service is uncheckable in all circumstances; birth and occupation cannot bar someone from its path. Everyone who agrees to follow it can take shelter of the Lord.
3
Real reformation means helping people become devotees of the Lord. Civilization advances when people are educated in the path of salvation, not merely when they become materially prosperous.

Key points from the purport

We may not hate even the prostitutes if they are devotees of the Lord.
In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.32) the Lord says, “O son of Pṛthā, even the low-born caṇḍālas and those who are born in a family of unbelievers, and even the prostitutes, shall attain perfection of life if they take shelter of unalloyed devotional service to Me, because in the path of devotional service there are no impediments due to degraded birth and occupation.
It appears that the prostitutes of Dvārakā, who were so eager to meet the Lord, were all His unalloyed devotees, and thus they were all on the path of salvation according to the above version of the Bhagavad-gītā.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 1.11.19 quotesBG 9.32

In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.32) the Lord says, “O son of Pṛthā, even the low-born caṇḍālas and those who are born in a family of unbelievers, and even the prostitutes, shall attain perfection of life if they take shelter of unalloyed devotional service to Me, because in the path of devotional service there are no impediments due to degraded birth and…

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

vāramukhyāḥwell-known prostitutes
caand
śataśaḥhundreds of
yānaiḥby vehicles
tat-darśanafor meeting Him (Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
utsukāḥvery much anxious
lasathanging
kuṇḍalaearrings

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”, “devotees”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.11
In this verse: “materially”
Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender
Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.11
In this verse: “shelter”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I overlook someone's devotion because of their social position or occupation?

Practice

Notice one judgment you make about someone's social position today, and remind yourself that devotional service is open to them.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Open to EveryoneThis 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.

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