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

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Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 9: Detachment from All that Is Material

11.9.4 11.9.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.9.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The saintly brāhmaṇasince 11.9.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe avadhūta → King Yadu

क्व‍‍चित् कुमारी त्वात्मानं वृणानान् गृहमागतान् ।

स्वयं तानर्हयामास क्व‍ापि यातेषु बन्धुषु ॥ ५ ॥

kvacit kumārī tv ātmānaṁ

vṛṇānān gṛham āgatān

svayaṁ tān arhayām āsa

kvāpi yāteṣu bandhuṣu

Translation

Once a marriageable young girl was alone in her house because her parents and relatives had gone that day to another place. At that time a few men arrived at the house, specifically desiring to marry her. She received them with all hospitality.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Guests with Hospitality

1
A marriageable young girl was alone at home because her parents and relatives had gone elsewhere.
2
Some men arrived at the house desiring to marry her.
3
Although her relatives were absent, she personally received the visitors with full hospitality.

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

Chapter 9: Detachment from All that Is Material

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Once several men arrived to ask for the hand of the young girl, whose relatives had coincidentally left the house. She went inside and began to prepare food for the unexpected guests by beating rice.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.9