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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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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
1.11.31.11.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 1.11.4-5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.11.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत्रोपनीतबलयो रवेर्दीपमिवाद‍ृता: ।

आत्मारामं पूर्णकामं निजलाभेन नित्यदा ॥ ४ ॥

प्रीत्युत्फुल्लमुखा: प्रोचुर्हर्षगद्गदया गिरा ।

पितरं सर्वसुहृदमवितारमिवार्भका: ॥ ५ ॥

tatropanīta-balayo

raver dīpam ivādṛtāḥ

ātmārāmaṁ pūrṇa-kāmaṁ

nija-lābhena nityadā

prīty-utphulla-mukhāḥ procur

harṣa-gadgadayā girā

pitaraṁ sarva-suhṛdam

avitāram ivārbhakāḥ

Translation

The citizens arrived before the Lord with their respective presentations, offering them to the fully satisfied and self-sufficient one, who, by His own potency, incessantly supplies others. These presentations were like the offering of a lamp to the sun. Yet the citizens began to speak in ecstatic language to receive the Lord, just as wards welcome their guardian and father.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Love Without Bargaining

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is self-sufficient and fully blissful. He needs no gifts, since everything already comes from His energy.

  2. 2

    As everyone’s well-wisher, He accepts offerings made in pure devotional service. Such offerings express love and affection, without demands from either side.

  3. 3

    The Lord is the supreme father of all living beings. He does not give a pure devotee anything that would obstruct devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • The comparison is made herein that making offerings to the Lord is something like offering a lamp in the worship of the sun-god.
  • As the supreme father, the Lord, however, does not supply to a pure devotee what is considered to be a barrier to the discharge of devotional service.
  • Those who are engaged in the devotional service of the Lord can rise to the position of unalloyed devotional service by His transcendental attraction.

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. tatrathereupon
  2. upanītahaving offered
  3. balayaḥpresentations
  4. raveḥup to the sun
  5. dīpamlamp
  6. ivalike
  7. ādṛtāḥbeing evaluated
  8. ātma-ārāmamunto the self-sufficient
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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: “ecstatic”, “love”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “guardian”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

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

Am I offering service out of affection, or expecting something in return?

Practice

Offer one small act of service to the Lord today without asking for a reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Love Without BargainingThis 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 1.11.4-5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.