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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
1.11.71.11.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.11.8

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The citizenssince 1.11.6inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अहो सनाथा भवता स्म यद्वयं

त्रैविष्टपानामपि दूरदर्शनम् ।

प्रेमस्मितस्‍निग्धनिरीक्षणाननं

पश्येम रूपं तव सर्वसौभगम् ॥ ८ ॥

aho sanāthā bhavatā sma yad vayaṁ

traiviṣṭapānām api dūra-darśanam

prema-smita-snigdha-nirīkṣaṇānanaṁ

paśyema rūpaṁ tava sarva-saubhagam

Translation

Oh, it is our good luck that we have come again today under Your protection by Your presence, for Your Lordship rarely visits even the denizens of heaven. Now it is possible for us to look into Your smiling face, which is full of affectionate glances. We can now see Your transcendental form, full of all auspiciousness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Reveals the Personal Lord

  1. 1

    The Lord is never impersonal; He is the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead. His eternal personal form can be seen by pure devotees.

  2. 2

    Even the inhabitants of higher planets rarely see Him. The pure devotees of Dvārakā could see Him face to face by His grace.

  3. 3

    Their devotion was free from material contamination through fruitive activities and philosophical speculation. Our natural, original state is revived through devotional service alone.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord in His eternal personal form can be seen only by the pure devotees.
  • The Lord is never impersonal, but He is the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead, possible to be visited by devotional service face to face, which is impossible to be done even by the denizens of higher planets.
  • Therefore, the Lord is rarely seen by them, but the inhabitants of Dvārakā, because of their being pure devotees without any tinge of the material contamination of fruitive activities and empiric philosophical speculation, can see Him face to face by the grace 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. ahooh, it is our good luck
  2. sa-nāthāḥto be under the protection of the master
  3. bhavatāby Your good self
  4. smaas we have become
  5. yat vayamas we are
  6. traiviṣṭa-pānāmof the demigods
  7. apialso
  8. dūra-darśanamvery rarely seen
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protection”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 seeking a personal relationship with the Lord through service, rather than material gain?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on the Lord’s affectionate smile, with the desire to serve Him without material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotion Reveals the Personal LordThis 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 1.11.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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