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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 13: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home
1.13.101.13.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 1.13.8inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अपि न: सुहृदस्तात बान्धवा: कृष्णदेवता: ।

द‍ृष्टा: श्रुता वा यदव: स्वपुर्यां सुखमासते ॥ ११ ॥

api naḥ suhṛdas tāta

bāndhavāḥ kṛṣṇa-devatāḥ

dṛṣṭāḥ śrutā vā yadavaḥ

sva-puryāṁ sukham āsate

Translation

My uncle, you must have visited Dvārakā. In that holy place are our friends and well-wishers, the descendants of Yadu, who are always rapt in the service of the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. You might have seen them or heard about them. Are they all living happily in their abodes?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Depends on Consciousness, Not Residence

  1. 1

    The Yādavas and Pāṇḍavas were always absorbed in thoughts of Lord Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental activities. Their pure devotional qualities were equal to Vidura’s.

  2. 2

    Whether one remains at home or leaves home, the real qualification is favorable absorption in Kṛṣṇa. This means knowing Him as the Absolute Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Thinking of Kṛṣṇa unfavorably or regarding Him merely as a powerful man is not pure devotion. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira remained deeply devoted even while administering his kingdom.

Key points from the purport
  • The Yādavas and the Pāṇḍavas, who were always rapt in the thought of the Lord Kṛṣṇa and His different transcendental activities, were all pure devotees of the Lord like Vidura.
  • Vidura left home in order to devote himself completely to the service of the Lord, but the Pāṇḍavas and the Yādavas were always rapt in the thought of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was also always rapt in the thought of Lord Kṛṣṇa and His associates at Dvārakā.

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

Bereavement → Renunciation. The worldly support system recedes and attachment is exposed.

Chapters 13–15 of Canto 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra departs; Kṛṣṇa disappears; Pāṇḍavas retire. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home

Vidura warns of inevitable death; Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaves home, and Yudhiṣṭhira finds his elders absent.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. apiwhether
  2. naḥour
  3. suhṛdaḥwell-wishers
  4. tātaO my uncle
  5. bāndhavāḥfriends
  6. kṛṣṇa-devatāḥthose who are always rapt in the service of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
  7. dṛṣṭāḥby seeing them
  8. śrutāḥor by hearing about them
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “devotional”

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 remember Kṛṣṇa favorably while carrying out my daily responsibilities?

Practice

Pause before one household or work duty to remember Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and renew your desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.13's connections

Live this todayDevotion Depends on Consciousness, Not ResidenceThis 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 1.13.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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