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

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 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 11 · Chapter 1: The Curse upon the Yadu Dynasty
11.1.1911.1.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.1.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 11.1.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रुत्वामोघं विप्रशापं द‍ृष्ट्वा च मुषलं नृप ।

विस्मिता भयसन्त्रस्ता बभूवुर्द्वारकौकस: ॥ २० ॥

śrutvāmoghaṁ vipra-śāpaṁ

dṛṣṭvā ca muṣalaṁ nṛpa

vismitā bhaya-santrastā

babhūvur dvārakaukasaḥ

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, when the inhabitants of Dvārakā heard of the infallible curse of the brāhmaṇas and saw the club, they were astonished and distraught with fear.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Curse Alarmed All of Dvārakā

  1. 1

    The inhabitants of Dvārakā heard about the brāhmaṇas’ curse. The translation describes that curse as infallible.

  2. 2

    They also saw the iron club. Their response arose from both hearing the account and seeing its tangible evidence.

  3. 3

    The inhabitants were astonished and distraught with fear. The alarm now extended beyond the boys to the people of Dvārakā.

How it feels

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Curse upon the Yadu Dynasty

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Fearing the brāhmaṇas’ curse, Yadurāja Ugrasena ordered the club ground to powder and thrown into the ocean. Within the ocean, a fish swallowed the last remaining lump of iron, and the waves carried all the bits of ground powder to the shore, where they were implanted and eventually grew into a grove of canes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrutvāhearing about
  2. amoghaminfallible
  3. vipra-śāpamthe curse of the brāhmaṇas
  4. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  5. caand
  6. muṣalamthe club
  7. nṛpaO King
  8. vismitāḥamazed
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 11.1

    In this verse: “heard”, “hearing”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.1

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.1

    In this verse: “king”

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 might my actions bring distress to people beyond myself?

Practice

Before one consequential choice today, pause to consider who else may be affected.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Curse Alarmed All of DvārakāThis 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 11.1.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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