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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
1.11.311.11.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.32

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

तमात्मजैर्द‍ृष्टिभिरन्तरात्मना

दुरन्तभावा: परिरेभिरे पतिम् ।

निरुद्धमप्यास्रवदम्बु नेत्रयो-

र्विलज्जतीनां भृगुवर्य वैक्लवात् ॥ ३२ ॥

tam ātmajair dṛṣṭibhir antarātmanā

duranta-bhāvāḥ parirebhire patim

niruddham apy āsravad ambu netrayor

vilajjatīnāṁ bhṛgu-varya vaiklavāt

Translation

The insuperable ecstasy was so strong that the queens, who were shy, first embraced the Lord in the innermost recesses of their hearts. Then they embraced Him visually, and then they sent their sons to embrace Him [which is equal to personal embracing]. But, O chief amongst the Bhṛgus, though they tried to restrain their feelings, they inadvertently shed tears.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love Expressed Through Heart and Eyes

  1. 1

    Although shyness hindered the queens from embracing Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa directly, they embraced Him within their hearts and through their eyes.

  2. 2

    They also sent their sons to embrace Him. Because a son develops as part of his mother’s body, this embrace gave the satisfaction of an affectionate embrace.

  3. 3

    Still, the queens felt their embrace remained unfinished. Their tears flowed despite their efforts to restrain them, revealing the strength of their affection for the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Although due to feminine shyness there were many hindrances to embracing the dear husband, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the queens performed that act by seeing Him, by putting Him in the cores of their hearts, and by sending their sons to embrace Him.
  • The embrace of the son is not exactly the embrace of husband and wife from the sexual point of view, but the embrace is satisfaction from the affectionate point of view.
  • The embrace of the eyes is more effective in the conjugal relation, and thus according to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī there is nothing wrong in such an exchange of feeling between husband and wife.

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. tamHim (the Lord)
  2. ātma-jaiḥby the sons
  3. dṛṣṭibhiḥby the sight
  4. antara-ātmanāby the innermost part of the heart
  5. duranta-bhāvāḥinsuperable ecstasy
  6. parirebhireembraced
  7. patimhusband
  8. niruddhamchoked 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: “ecstasy”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother’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

What does the queens’ inward embrace teach me about heartfelt affection for Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to remember Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa within your heart with affection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Expressed Through Heart and EyesThis 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 1.11.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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