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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
1.11.21.11.4-5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.3

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.11.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तमुपश्रुत्य निनदं जगद्भयभयावहम् ।

प्रत्युद्ययु: प्रजा: सर्वा भर्तृदर्शनलालसा: ॥ ३ ॥

tam upaśrutya ninadaṁ

jagad-bhaya-bhayāvaham

pratyudyayuḥ prajāḥ sarvā

bhartṛ-darśana-lālasāḥ

Translation

The citizens of Dvārakā, having heard that sound which threatens fear personified in the material world, began to run towards Him fast, just to have a long desired audience with the Lord, who is the protector of all devotees.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Holy Name Dispels Fear

  1. 1

    The citizens remained immersed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa while He was away. Through spiritual contact, they were never truly separated from Him.

  2. 2

    His conchshell awakened their joy like the sunrise after night, and they hurried to see Him. Devotees know no one else as their protector.

  3. 3

    The sound of the Lord is identical with Him and is represented by His holy name. Taking shelter of this sound frees us from the threatening problems of material existence.

Key points from the purport
  • Just as the gopīs at Vṛndāvana used to think of Kṛṣṇa while He was away from the village for cowherding engagements, the citizens of Dvārakā were all immersed in thought of the Lord while He was away from Dvārakā to attend the Battle of Kurukṣetra.
  • So all the citizens of Dvārakā awoke from a state of slumber because of the sunrise of Kṛṣṇa, and they all hastened towards Him just to have an audience.
  • The whole material existence is full of problems, and thus the fear problem is always prominent.

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. tamthat
  2. upaśrutyahaving overheard
  3. ninadamsound
  4. jagat-bhayathe fear of material existence
  5. bhaya-āvahamthe threatening principle
  6. pratitowards
  7. udyayuḥrapidly proceeded
  8. prajāḥthe citizens
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “heard”, “holy name”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “protector”

  • 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

When fear arises, how readily do I turn toward the Lord as my protector?

Practice

Attentively recite: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.11's connections

Live this todayThe Lord’s Holy Name Dispels FearThis 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 1.11.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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