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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
1.11.301.11.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.31

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

पत्न्य: पतिं प्रोष्य गृहानुपागतं

विलोक्य सञ्जातमनोमहोत्सवा: ।

उत्तस्थुरारात् सहसासनाशयात्

साकं व्रतैर्व्रीडितलोचनानना: ॥ ३१ ॥

patnyaḥ patiṁ proṣya gṛhānupāgataṁ

vilokya sañjāta-mano-mahotsavāḥ

uttasthur ārāt sahasāsanāśayāt

sākaṁ vratair vrīḍita-locanānanāḥ

Translation

The queens of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa rejoiced within their minds to see their husband home after a long period abroad. The queens got up at once from their seats and meditations. As was socially customary, they covered their faces shyly and looked about coyly.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Unlimited Power and His Devotees’ Love

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead expanded Himself into 16,108 forms and entered every queen’s palace simultaneously. His unlimited potency must never be measured by the limited power of living beings.

  2. 2

    The queens were expansions of His internal potency. Their loving exchanges with Him are transcendental pastimes, not ordinary human affairs.

  3. 3

    During His absence, the queens remained absorbed in meditation upon Him. On seeing Him return, their strong love overcame the formalities that stood in the way of meeting Him.

Key points from the purport
  • As mentioned above, the Lord entered His home palaces occupied by 16,108 queens.
  • This means that the Lord at once expanded Himself in as many plenary expansions as there were queens and palaces and entered in each and every one of them simultaneously and separately.
  • The queens were also expansions of His internal potency, and thus the potent and potencies are perpetually exchanging transcendental pleasures, known as pastimes 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. patnyaḥthe ladies (wives of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
  2. patimhusband
  3. proṣyawho was away from home
  4. gṛha-anupāgatamnow returned home
  5. vilokyathus seeing
  6. sañjātahaving developed
  7. manaḥ-mahā-utsavāḥa sense of joyful ceremony within the mind
  8. uttasthuḥgot up
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “love”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “absence”

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 might measuring Kṛṣṇa by my own limitations hinder my understanding of Him?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering Kṛṣṇa and reflecting that His power is unlimited.

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 todayKṛṣṇa’s Unlimited Power and His Devotees’ LoveThis 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 1.11.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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