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
1.11.231.11.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.24

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

राजमार्गं गते कृष्णे द्वारकाया: कुलस्त्रिय: ।

हर्म्याण्यारुरुहुर्विप्र तदीक्षणमहोत्सवा: ॥ २४ ॥

rāja-mārgaṁ gate kṛṣṇe

dvārakāyāḥ kula-striyaḥ

harmyāṇy āruruhur vipra

tad-īkṣaṇa-mahotsavāḥ

Translation

When Lord Kṛṣṇa passed over the public roads, all the ladies from the respectable families of Dvārakā went up to the roofs of their palaces just to have a look at the Lord. They considered this to be the greatest festival.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seeing the Lord Is a Festival

  1. 1

    The ladies of Dvārakā climbed to their palace roofs to see Kṛṣṇa. They considered looking upon Him the greatest festival.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s temple form, called arca-vigraha, is not different from Him personally. He manifests this form through His internal potency to facilitate devotional service.

  3. 3

    Although the temple form appears to be made of material elements, the Lord is free from material contamination. Authorized ācāryas establish temples under regulative principles so everyone has an opportunity to worship Him.

Key points from the purport
  • To have a look at the Lord is a great festive occasion undoubtedly, as it was considered by the metropolitan ladies of Dvārakā.
  • Especially during the days of the Jhulana and Janmāṣṭamī ceremonies, the ladies of India still throng up in the greatest number at the temple of the Lord, where His transcendental eternal form is worshiped.
  • Therefore, the ladies or men who observe festivals in the temples of the Lord just to have a look at the transcendental form are a thousand times more glorious than those who are nonbelievers in the transcendental form 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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rāja-mārgamthe public roads
  2. gatewhile passing over
  3. kṛṣṇeby Lord Kṛṣṇa
  4. dvārakāyāḥof the city of Dvārakā
  5. kula-striyaḥladies of the respectable families
  6. harmyāṇion the palaces
  7. āruruhuḥgot up
  8. vipraO brāhmaṇas
  9. tat-īkṣaṇajust to look upon Him (Kṛṣṇa)
  10. mahā-utsavāḥaccepted as the greatest festival
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”, “worship”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 would remembering the Lord’s personal presence change my approach to temple worship?

Practice

Read the description of the arca-vigraha again, pausing to appreciate how the Lord makes devotional service accessible.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeing the Lord Is a FestivalThis 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 1.11.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories