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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.6.37-38

वयं च तस्मिन्नाप्लुत्य तर्पयित्वा पितृन् सुरान् ।

भोजयित्वोषिजो विप्रान् नानागुणवतान्धसा ॥ ३७ ॥

तेषु दानानि पात्रेषु श्रद्धयोप्‍त्‍वा महान्ति वै ।

वृजिनानि तरिष्यामो दानैर्नौभिरिवार्णवम् ॥ ३८ ॥

vayaṁ ca tasminn āplutya

tarpayitvā pitṝn surān

bhojayitvoṣijo viprān

nānā-guṇavatāndhasā

teṣu dānāni pātreṣu

śraddhayoptvā mahānti vai

vṛjināni tariṣyāmo

dānair naubhir ivārṇavam

Translation

By bathing at Prabhāsa-kṣetra, by offering sacrifice there to placate the forefathers and demigods, by feeding the worshipable brāhmaṇas with various delicious foodstuffs and by bestowing opulent gifts upon them as the most suitable candidates for charity, we will certainly cross over these terrible dangers through such acts of charity, just as one can cross over a great ocean in a suitable boat.

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.

Charity as a Boat Across Danger

  1. 1

    The Lord proposes bathing at Prabhāsa-kṣetra and offering sacrifice there to satisfy the forefathers and demigods.

  2. 2

    He calls for feeding worshipable brāhmaṇas delicious food and giving them opulent gifts. They are described as the most suitable recipients of charity.

  3. 3

    These acts of charity are compared to a suitable boat that carries one across a great ocean. The Lord says they will cross over the terrible dangers in this way.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.