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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 8: The Story of Piṅgalā
11.8.2111.8.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.8.22

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly brāhmaṇasince 11.8.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe avadhūta → King Yadu

पिङ्गला नाम वेश्यासीद् विदेहनगरे पुरा ।

तस्या मे शिक्षितं किञ्चिन्निबोध नृपनन्दन ॥ २२ ॥

piṅgalā nāma veśyāsīd

videha-nagare purā

tasyā me śikṣitaṁ kiñcin

nibodha nṛpa-nandana

Translation

O son of kings, previously in the city of Videha there dwelled a prostitute named Piṅgalā. Now please hear what I have learned from that lady.

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.

Hear What Can Be Learned From Piṅgalā

  1. 1

    A prostitute named Piṅgalā once lived in the city of Videha.

  2. 2

    The speaker says that he learned something from her.

  3. 3

    He asks the son of kings to listen to that lesson.

How it feels

Grief and dependence → Detachment. The temporary world becomes a source of spiritual instruction.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 11: The avadhuta's twenty-four teachers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: The Story of Piṅgalā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

There was once a prostitute named Piṅgalā in the city of Videha, and from her the avadhūta learned another lesson. One day she dressed herself in very attractive clothing and ornaments and was waiting from sunset until midnight for a customer.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. piṅgalā nāmaof the name Piṅgalā
  2. veśyāa prostitute
  3. āsītthere was
  4. videha-nagarein the city named Videha
  5. purāin the past
  6. tasyāḥfrom her
  7. meby me
  8. śikṣitaṁwhat was learned
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.8

    In this verse: “kings”

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 ready to listen carefully to what can be learned from Piṅgalā?

Practice

Pause before continuing and prepare to read Piṅgalā’s story attentively.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear What Can Be Learned From PiṅgalāThis 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 11.8.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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