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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.
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Canto 1 · Chapter 11: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance into Dvārakā
1.11.271.11.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.28

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

प्रविष्टस्तु गृहं पित्रो: परिष्वक्त: स्वमातृभि: ।

ववन्दे शिरसा सप्त देवकीप्रमुखा मुदा ॥ २८ ॥

praviṣṭas tu gṛhaṁ pitroḥ

pariṣvaktaḥ sva-mātṛbhiḥ

vavande śirasā sapta

devakī-pramukhā mudā

Translation

After entering the house of His father, He was embraced by the mothers present, and the Lord offered His obeisances unto them by placing His head at their feet. The mothers were headed by Devakī [His real mother].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Teaches Equal Respect for Mothers

  1. 1

    On entering His father’s house, Kṛṣṇa was embraced by His mothers, headed by Devakī. He placed His head at their feet in respect.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa did not distinguish between His own mother and His stepmothers when offering obeisances. They were all affectionate toward Him.

  3. 3

    The scriptures recognize several persons and beings as mothers, including the cow, the nurse and the earth. The Lord of the universe acts as an ideal son to teach respect for stepmothers.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears that Vasudeva, the father of Lord Kṛṣṇa, had completely separate residential quarters where he lived with his eighteen wives, out of whom Śrīmatī Devakī is the real mother of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa also did not distinguish His real mother from His stepmothers, and He equally offered His obeisances unto all the wives of Vasudeva present on the occasion.
  • According to scriptures also, there are seven mothers: (1) the real mother, (2) the wife of the spiritual master, (3) the wife of a brāhmaṇa, (4) the wife of the king, (5) the cow, (6) the nurse, and (7) the earth.

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. praviṣṭaḥafter entering
  2. tubut
  3. gṛhamhouses
  4. pitroḥof the father
  5. pariṣvaktaḥembraced
  6. sva-mātṛbhiḥby His own mothers
  7. vavandeoffered obeisances
  8. śirasāHis head
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “mothers”, “father”, “father’s”

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

Whose motherly care could I acknowledge more respectfully?

Practice

Offer a sincere word of gratitude to your mother, stepmother or someone who has given you motherly care.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Teaches Equal Respect for MothersThis 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 1.11.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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