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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 31: The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
11.31.2311.31.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.31.24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 11.31.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नित्यं सन्निहितस्तत्र भगवान् मधुसूदन: ।

स्मृत्याशेषाशुभहरं सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गलम् ॥ २४ ॥

nityaṁ sannihitas tatra

bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ

smṛtyāśeṣāśubha-haraṁ

sarva-maṅgala-maṅgalam

Translation

Lord Madhusūdana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is eternally present in Dvārakā. It is the most auspicious of all auspicious places, and merely remembering it destroys all contamination.

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.

Remembering Dvārakā Removes Contamination

  1. 1

    Lord Madhusūdana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is eternally present in Dvārakā.

  2. 2

    Dvārakā is the most auspicious of all auspicious places.

  3. 3

    Merely remembering Dvārakā destroys all contamination.

How it feels

Sorrow and shock → Remembrance and acceptance. Devotees face a devastating change in visible association.

Chapters 30–31 of Canto 11: The Yadu dynasty and Kṛṣṇa disappear. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 31: The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

At that time the ocean swallowed up all of Dvārakā-purī except for the Lord’s own residence. Arjuna took the remaining members of the Yadu dynasty to Indraprastha, where he installed Vajra upon the throne.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.31
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nityameternally
  2. sannihitaḥpresent
  3. tatrathere
  4. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. madhusūdanaḥMadhusūdana
  6. smṛtyāby remembrance
  7. aśeṣa-aśubhaof everything inauspicious
  8. haramwhich takes away
  9. sarva-maṅgalaof all auspicious things
  10. maṅgalamthe most auspicious
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.31

    In this verse: “contamination”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might you make a little time to remember Dvārakā and the Lord’s eternal presence there?

Practice

Read this translation slowly, then spend a moment remembering Dvārakā as the Lord’s eternal dwelling.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembering Dvārakā Removes ContaminationThis 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 11.31.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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