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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
1.11.221.11.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.23

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

स्वयं च गुरुभिर्विप्रै: सदारै: स्थविरैरपि ।

आशीर्भिर्युज्यमानोऽन्यैर्वन्दिभिश्चाविशत्पुरम् ॥ २३ ॥

svayaṁ ca gurubhir vipraiḥ

sadāraiḥ sthavirair api

āśīrbhir yujyamāno ’nyair

vandibhiś cāviśat puram

Translation

Then the Lord personally entered the city accompanied by elderly relatives and invalid brāhmaṇas with their wives, all offering benedictions and singing the glories of the Lord. Others also praised the glories of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Glorification Honors the Lord

  1. 1

    The Lord entered the city with elderly relatives and aged, infirm brāhmaṇas with their wives. They offered blessings and sang His glories.

  2. 2

    The brāhmaṇas praised kings for genuinely glorious deeds, not merely to flatter them. Their dignified praise encouraged further pious actions.

  3. 3

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is worthy of all glories. Those who chanted His glories were themselves glorified by doing so.

Key points from the purport
  • The brāhmaṇas in society were never attentive to banking money for future retired life.
  • Such brāhmaṇas were not, so to speak, flatterers of the kings, but the kings were actually glorified by their actions, and they were sincerely still more encouraged in pious acts by such brāhmaṇas in a dignified way.
  • Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is worthy of all glories, and the praying brāhmaṇas and others were glorified themselves by chanting the glories of the Lord.

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. svayamHimself
  2. caalso
  3. gurubhiḥby elderly relatives
  4. vipraiḥby the brāhmaṇas
  5. sadāraiḥwith their wives
  6. sthaviraiḥinvalid
  7. apialso
  8. āśīrbhiḥby the blessing of
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanted”, “glorified”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “blessings”

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 my words of praise be sincere rather than flattering?

Practice

Speak or sing one sentence praising a glorious quality or deed of Kṛṣṇa described in this verse and purport.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySincere Glorification Honors 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 1.11.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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