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
1.11.341.11.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.35

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

स एष नरलोकेऽस्मिन्नवतीर्ण: स्वमायया ।

रेमे स्त्रीरत्नकूटस्थो भगवान् प्राकृतो यथा ॥ ३५ ॥

sa eṣa nara-loke ’sminn

avatīrṇaḥ sva-māyayā

reme strī-ratna-kūṭastho

bhagavān prākṛto yathā

Translation

That Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, out of His causeless mercy, appeared on this planet by His internal potency and enjoyed Himself amongst competent women as if He were engaging in mundane affairs.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Transcendental Relationships Bring Lasting Happiness

  1. 1

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared by His internal potency out of causeless mercy. Although His household life resembled ordinary affairs, His life with each wife in a separate palace was never mundane.

  2. 2

    His wives were liberated souls, manifestations of His internal energy. Their qualification for this eternal relationship was the perfection of devotional service.

  3. 3

    The Lord displays His pastimes to attract conditioned souls into eternal loving service. Material relationships end and cannot give perpetual happiness, whereas the Lord eternally reciprocates relationships with His devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore, the Lord, living as a householder amongst His competent wives, is never mundane, and His behavior with them is never to be understood as mundane sex relation.
  • The women amongst whom He lived as their husband are not, therefore, women of this mundane world, but are eternally related with Him as transcendental wives, a position which they attained by perfection of devotional service.
  • His wives, therefore, appear like mundane women, but factually they are all transcendental liberated souls, perfect manifestations of internal energy.

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. saḥHe (the Supreme Personality of Godhead)
  2. eṣaḥall these
  3. nara-lokeon this planet of human beings
  4. asminon this
  5. avatīrṇaḥhaving appeared
  6. svapersonal, internal
  7. māyayācauseless mercy
  8. remeenjoyed
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “household”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.11

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

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 can my search for lasting happiness turn toward a relationship of service with Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Reread the translation today and offer a brief prayer to become attracted to Kṛṣṇa’s eternal service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTranscendental Relationships Bring Lasting HappinessThis 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 1.11.35? 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