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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
1.11.191.11.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.20

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

नटनर्तकगन्धर्वा: सूतमागधवन्दिन: ।

गायन्ति चोत्तमश्लोकचरितान्यद्भुतानि च ॥ २० ॥

naṭa-nartaka-gandharvāḥ

sūta-māgadha-vandinaḥ

gāyanti cottamaśloka-

caritāny adbhutāni ca

Translation

Expert dramatists, artists, dancers, singers, historians, genealogists and learned speakers all gave their respective contributions, being inspired by the superhuman pastimes of the Lord. Thus they proceeded on and on.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Creative Skills for Spiritual Enlightenment

  1. 1

    Dramatists, dancers, singers, historians and speakers contributed their skills, inspired by the Lord's superhuman pastimes. Their subject was the Lord's activities rather than ordinary events.

  2. 2

    The purport describes the Purāṇas as historical facts related to the Supreme Lord across different ages, times and planets. Their accounts are not arranged in chronological order.

  3. 3

    Performances about the Supreme Lord brought knowledge of Vedic literature even to people without academic qualifications. Skilled artists and speakers thus serve the spiritual enlightenment of ordinary people.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears that five thousand years ago the society also needed the services of the dramatists, artists, dancers, singers, historians, genealogists, public speakers, etc. Dancers, singers and dramatic artists mostly hailed from the śūdra community, whereas the learned historians, genealogists and public speakers hailed from the brāhmaṇa community.
  • Such dramatists, dancers, singers, historians, genealogists and public speakers would dwell on the subject of the Lord’s superhuman activities in different ages and millenniums, and not on ordinary events.
  • Therefore, expert players in drama, dancers, singers, speakers, etc., are required for the spiritual enlightenment of the common man.

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. naṭadramatists
  2. nartakadancers
  3. gandharvāḥcelestial singers
  4. sūtaprofessional historians
  5. māgadhaprofessional genealogists
  6. vandinaḥprofessional learned speakers
  7. gāyantichant
  8. carespectively
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 could one of my abilities help make the Lord's activities accessible to others?

Practice

Write or speak two simple sentences about the Lord's welcome described here, and share them with someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Creative Skills for Spiritual EnlightenmentThis 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 1.11.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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