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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
1.11.381.12.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.39

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

तं मेनिरेऽबला मूढा: स्त्रैणं चानुव्रतं रह: ।

अप्रमाणविदो भर्तुरीश्वरं मतयो यथा ॥ ३९ ॥

taṁ menire ’balā mūḍhāḥ

straiṇaṁ cānuvrataṁ rahaḥ

apramāṇa-vido bhartur

īśvaraṁ matayo yathā

Translation

The simple and delicate women truly thought that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, their beloved husband, followed them and was dominated by them. They were unaware of the extent of the glories of their husband, as the atheists are unaware of Him as the supreme controller.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Love Deepens Through the Lord’s Potency

  1. 1

    The queens’ incomplete awareness of Kṛṣṇa’s glories was not material ignorance. His internal potency, yogamāyā, allowed their loving exchange with Him as their beloved husband.

  2. 2

    The Lord exchanges transcendental relations as proprietor, master, friend, son and lover. His eternal associates relate to Him with pure love and devotion, free from material contamination.

  3. 3

    Even the Lord’s personal associates do not fully know His unfathomable glories, and mental speculation gives only partial knowledge. The Supreme Lord can be known only by His mercy.

Key points from the purport
  • Even the transcendental wives of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa did not know completely the unfathomable glories of the Lord.
  • The wives of Lord Kṛṣṇa were made to forget the immeasurable glories of the Lord by the internal potency so that there might not be any flaw of exchange, and they took it for granted that the Lord was a henpecked husband, always following them in lonely places.
  • In other words, even the personal associates of the Lord do not know Him perfectly well, so what do the thesis writers or mental speculators know about the transcendental glories 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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamunto Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
  2. meniretook it for granted
  3. abalāḥdelicate
  4. mūḍhāḥbecause of simplicity
  5. straiṇamone who is dominated by his wife
  6. caalso
  7. anuvratamfollower
  8. rahaḥlonely place
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: “lover”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”

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 I approach the Lord with a greater desire for His mercy and loving service?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer today asking the Lord for His mercy to serve Him with sincere affection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Love Deepens Through the Lord’s PotencyThis 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 1.11.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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