Chapter 11 · Class prep
A printable handout for teaching this chapter. For each verse with Personal Guidance, you'll see Prabhupāda's translation, the essence, two or three practical applications, and a discussion prompt. Press ⌘P / Ctrl P to print as a handout.
BG 11.1
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Upon reaching the border of His most prosperous metropolis, known as the country of the Ānartas [Dvārakā], the Lord sounded His auspicious conchshell, heralding His arrival and apparently pacifying the dejection of the inhabitants.
Essence. Reaching Dvārakā's border, Kṛṣṇa sounded His auspicious conchshell, heralding His arrival and easing the citizens' dejection. The arrival of presence is announced before it is felt. Joy needs a herald.
BG 11.2
The white and fat-bowled conchshell, being gripped by the hand of Lord Kṛṣṇa and sounded by Him, appeared to be reddened by the touch of His transcendental lips. It seemed that a white swan was playing in the stems of red lotus flowers.
Essence. The conch in His hand, reddened by His lips, looked like a white swan among red lotuses. Even sacred objects take on color from contact with the Lord. Touch transmits beauty.
BG 11.3
The citizens of Dvārakā, having heard that sound which threatens fear personified in the material world, began to run towards Him fast, just to have a long desired audience with the Lord, who is the protector of all devotees.
Essence. Citizens, hearing the sound that threatens fear personified, ran toward Him for long-desired audience. The same sound that scares ego comforts the devoted. Hearing depends on the heart.
BG 11.4-5
The citizens arrived before the Lord with their respective presentations, offering them to the fully satisfied and self-sufficient one, who, by His own potency, incessantly supplies others. These presentations were like the offering of a lamp to the sun. Yet the citizens began to speak in ecstatic language to receive the Lord, just as wards welcome their guardian and father.
Essence. Citizens arrived with offerings — futile, since He is self-sufficient — like offering a lamp to the sun. Their offerings honored their hearts, not His need. We offer for our own sake.
BG 11.6
The citizens said: O Lord, You are worshiped by all demigods like Brahmā, the four Sanas and even the King of heaven. You are the ultimate rest for those who are really aspiring to achieve the highest benefit of life. You are the supreme transcendental Lord, and inevitable time cannot exert its influence upon You.
Essence. The citizens said: You are worshiped even by Brahmā, Sanaka, and Indra. You are ultimate rest for those aspiring to the highest. Knowing who is worshipped lifts the worshipper.
BG 11.7
O creator of the universe, You are our mother, well-wisher, Lord, father, spiritual master and worshipable Deity. By following in Your footsteps we have become successful in every respect. We pray, therefore, that You continue to bless us with Your mercy.
Essence. You are our mother, well-wisher, Lord, father, spiritual master and worshipable Deity. We have succeeded by following Your footsteps. Please continue to bless us. One person can be many relationships when that person is the Lord.
BG 11.8
Oh, it is our good luck that we have come again today under Your protection by Your presence, for Your Lordship rarely visits even the denizens of heaven. Now it is possible for us to look into Your smiling face, which is full of affectionate glances. We can now see Your transcendental form, full of all auspiciousness.
Essence. It is our good luck to be under Your protection by Your presence, for Your Lordship rarely visits even denizens of heaven. We can look on Your smiling face. Presence is the rarer mercy.
BG 11.9
O lotus-eyed Lord, whenever You go away to Mathurā-Vṛndāvana or Hastināpura to meet Your friends and relatives, every moment of Your absence seems like millions of years. O infallible one, at that time our eyes become useless, as if bereft of sun.
Essence. Whenever You go away — Mathurā, Vṛndāvana, Hastināpura — every moment of absence seems like millions of years. Our eyes become useless without You. Love distorts time toward longing.
BG 11.10
O master, if You live abroad all the time, then we cannot look at Your attractive face, whose smiles vanquish all our sufferings. How can we exist without Your presence? Upon hearing their speeches, the Lord, who is very kind to the citizens and the devotees, entered the city of Dvārakā and acknowledged all their greetings by casting His transcendental glance over them.
Essence. If You live abroad always, how can we exist without Your smile that vanquishes sufferings? Hearing this, the kind Lord smiled. Honest expression of need draws response.
BG 11.11
As Bhogavatī, the capital of Nāgaloka, is protected by the Nāgas, so was Dvārakā protected by the descendants of Vṛṣṇi — Bhoja, Madhu, Daśārha, Arha, Kukura, Andhaka, etc. — who were as strong as Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Essence. As Bhogavatī is protected by Nāgas, Dvārakā was protected by the Vṛṣṇi descendants — Bhoja, Madhu, Daśārha, Arha, Kukura, Andhaka — all strong as Lord Kṛṣṇa. Strong communities protect what is sacred. The Lord has His allies.
BG 11.12
The city of Dvārakāpurī was filled with the opulences of all seasons. There were hermitages, orchards, flower gardens, parks and reservoirs of water breeding lotus flowers all over.
Essence. Dvārakā was filled with all seasonal opulences — hermitages, orchards, gardens, lotus reservoirs. A holy city integrates contemplation and beauty and natural plenty. Sacred space is not austere.
BG 11.13
The city gateway, the household doors and festooned arches along the roads were all nicely decorated with festive signs like plantain trees and mango leaves, all to welcome the Lord. Flags, garlands and painted signs and slogans all combined to shade the sunshine.
Essence. Gates, doors and arches decorated with plantain trees and mango leaves welcomed Him; flags, garlands, painted signs combined to make it palatial. Welcome takes effort. We can decorate for the holy arrival.
BG 11.14
The highways, subways, lanes, markets and public meeting places were all thoroughly cleansed and then moistened with scented water. And to welcome the Lord, fruits, flowers and unbroken seeds were strewn everywhere.
Essence. Highways and markets were cleansed and moistened with scented water; fruits, flowers and unbroken seeds strewn. Welcome is sensory. We can prepare a place for the Lord through smell, sight, and care.
BG 11.15
In each and every door of the residential houses, auspicious things like curd, unbroken fruits, sugarcane and full waterpots with articles for worship, incense and candles were all displayed.
Essence. Each door displayed curd, fruits, sugarcane, full waterpots, incense and candles. Households participate in city-wide welcome. Devotion is communal and detailed.
BG 11.16-17
On hearing that the most dear Kṛṣṇa was approaching Dvārakā-dhāma, magnanimous Vasudeva, Akrūra, Ugrasena, Balarāma (the superhumanly powerful), Pradyumna, Cārudeṣṇa and Sāmba the son of Jāmbavatī, all extremely happy, abandoned resting, sitting and dining.
Essence. Vasudeva, Akrūra, Ugrasena, Balarāma, Pradyumna, Cārudeṣṇa, Sāmba — all happy, abandoned rest, eating, sitting to come greet the Lord. Joy interrupts even necessary activities.
BG 11.18
They hastened toward the Lord on chariots with brāhmaṇas bearing flowers. Before them were elephants, emblems of good fortune. Conchshells and bugles were sounded, and Vedic hymns were chanted. Thus they offered their respects, which were saturated with affection.
Essence. They hastened toward the Lord on chariots with brāhmaṇas bearing flowers, elephants leading, conches and Vedic hymns sounding. Ceremony scales with the importance of the Person. Holy meetings deserve formality.
BG 11.19
At the same time, many hundreds of well-known prostitutes began to proceed on various vehicles. They were all very eager to meet the Lord, and their beautiful faces were decorated with dazzling earrings, which enhanced the beauty of their foreheads.
Essence. Hundreds of prostitutes also came, eager, with dazzling earrings. The Lord receives all kinds — His arrival isn't gated by social purity. He welcomes the marginalized too.
BG 11.20
Expert dramatists, artists, dancers, singers, historians, genealogists and learned speakers all gave their respective contributions, being inspired by the superhuman pastimes of the Lord. Thus they proceeded on and on.
Essence. Expert dramatists, artists, dancers, singers, historians, genealogists, learned speakers all contributed, inspired by His superhuman pastimes. Art is a legitimate offering. The Lord receives many kinds of skill.
BG 11.21
Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, approached them and offered due honor and respect to each and every one of the friends, relatives, citizens and all others who came to receive and welcome Him.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa approached and offered due honor and respect to every friend, relative, citizen, and other. The Lord personally greets each soul. He is not too busy for individual attention.
BG 11.22
The almighty Lord greeted everyone present by bowing His head, exchanging greetings, embracing, shaking hands, looking and smiling, giving assurances and awarding benedictions, even to the lowest in rank.
Essence. The almighty Lord greeted everyone — bowing His head, exchanging greetings, embracing, shaking hands, looking, smiling, giving assurances, even to the lowest in rank. Greatness has many gestures.
BG 11.23
Then the Lord personally entered the city accompanied by elderly relatives and invalid brāhmaṇas with their wives, all offering benedictions and singing the glories of the Lord. Others also praised the glories of the Lord.
Essence. He entered the city with elderly relatives and invalid brāhmaṇas with their wives, all offering benedictions. The Lord's entry into a city is accompanied by the elderly and infirm. Inclusion is the natural retinue.
BG 11.24
When Lord Kṛṣṇa passed over the public roads, all the ladies from the respectable families of Dvārakā went up to the roofs of their palaces just to have a look at the Lord. They considered this to be the greatest festival.
Essence. Ladies from respectable families climbed to roofs just to look at Him — they considered it the greatest festival. Mere sight of the Lord is festival enough. We don't need elaborate occasions.
BG 11.25
The inhabitants of Dvārakā were regularly accustomed to look upon the reservoir of all beauty, the infallible Lord, yet they were never satiated.
Essence. Inhabitants of Dvārakā were regularly accustomed to looking on the infallible Lord — yet were never satiated. Real beauty does not exhaust itself. The Lord rewards repeated attention.
BG 11.26
The Lord’s chest is the abode of the goddess of fortune. His moonlike face is the drinking vessel for eyes which hanker after all that is beautiful. His arms are the resting places for the administrative demigods. And His lotus feet are the refuge of pure devotees who never talk or sing of any subject except His Lordship.
Essence. His chest is the abode of fortune, His moon-face the cup for beauty-seeking eyes, His arms the rest of administrative demigods, His lotus feet the refuge of pure devotees. Each part of His body serves a different need.
BG 11.27
As the Lord passed along the public road of Dvārakā, His head was protected from the sunshine by a white umbrella. White feathered fans moved in semicircles, and showers of flowers fell upon the road. His yellow garments and garlands of flowers made it appear as if a dark cloud were surrounded simultaneously by sun, moon, lightning and rainbows.
Essence. As He passed on the public road, white umbrella protected Him, fans moved, flower showers fell, yellow garments and lotus garlands gleamed. The Lord's procession is itself a teaching about honor.
BG 11.28
After entering the house of His father, He was embraced by the mothers present, and the Lord offered His obeisances unto them by placing His head at their feet. The mothers were headed by Devakī [His real mother].
Essence. Entering His father's house, He was embraced by His mothers, and offered obeisances by placing His head at their feet. Even Kṛṣṇa bows to His mothers. Reverence for source is the Lord's own example.
BG 11.29
The mothers, after embracing their son, sat Him on their laps. Due to pure affection, milk sprang from their breasts. They were overwhelmed with delight, and the tears from their eyes wetted the Lord.
Essence. The mothers embraced their son, sat Him on their laps; milk sprang from their breasts due to pure affection. Tears wetted the Lord. The body itself participates in pure love.
BG 11.30
Thereafter, the Lord entered His palaces, which were perfect to the fullest extent. His wives lived in them, and they numbered over sixteen thousand.
Essence. He entered His palaces, where His wives — sixteen thousand of them — lived. The Lord's domestic life is vast and tender. Even in scale, intimacy is preserved.
BG 11.31
The queens of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa rejoiced within their minds to see their husband home after a long period abroad. The queens got up at once from their seats and meditations. As was socially customary, they covered their faces shyly and looked about coyly.
Essence. The queens, rejoicing, rose from their seats and meditations; as was customary, they covered faces shyly and looked at Him. Joy is held inside socially appropriate forms. Decorum and devotion coexist.
BG 11.32
The insuperable ecstasy was so strong that the queens, who were shy, first embraced the Lord in the innermost recesses of their hearts. Then they embraced Him visually, and then they sent their sons to embrace Him [which is equal to personal embracing]. But, O chief amongst the Bhṛgus, though they tried to restrain their feelings, they inadvertently shed tears.
Essence. Insurmountable ecstasy: the queens first embraced Him in the inner recesses of their hearts, then visually, then through their sons. Love embraces inwardly first, before any outward act.
BG 11.33
Although Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was constantly by their sides, as well as exclusively alone, His feet appeared to them to be newer and newer. The goddess of fortune, although by nature always restless and moving, could not quit the Lord’s feet. So what woman can be detached from those feet, having once taken shelter of them?
Essence. Although the Lord was constantly by their sides, His feet seemed newer and newer; Lakṣmī herself, ordinarily restless, could not leave them. Even the goddess of fortune is held by His feet. Endless novelty is His nature.
BG 11.34
The Lord was pacified after killing those kings who were burdensome to the earth. They were puffed up with their military strength, their horses, elephants, chariots, infantry, etc. He Himself was not a party in the fight. He simply created hostility between the powerful administrators, and they fought amongst themselves. He was like the wind which causes friction between bamboos and so sparks a fire.
Essence. He was pacified after killing those kings burdensome to earth — though He Himself was not party to the fight. He simply created the divisions that did the work. Cosmic management uses local agents.
BG 11.35
That Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, out of His causeless mercy, appeared on this planet by His internal potency and enjoyed Himself amongst competent women as if He were engaging in mundane affairs.
Essence. He appeared on this planet by His internal potency and enjoyed Himself among competent women as if engaging in mundane affairs. The mundane and the divine flow in the same gestures for Him.
BG 11.36
Although the queens’ beautiful smiles and furtive glances were all spotless and exciting, and although they could conquer Cupid himself by making him give up his bow in frustration, and although even the tolerant Śiva could fall victim to them, still, despite all their magical feats and attractions, they could not agitate the senses of the Lord.
Essence. Although the queens' smiles and glances could conquer Cupid and tempt even Śiva, they could not stir His mind. The Lord is undisturbed by what disturbs even the highest. Equanimity at the deepest level.
BG 11.37
The common materialistic conditioned souls speculate that the Lord is one of them. Out of their ignorance they think that the Lord is affected by matter, although He is unattached.
Essence. Common materialistic souls speculate that the Lord is one of them — affected by matter — out of ignorance. Imagining the Lord small is itself a form of bondage.
BG 11.38
This is the divinity of the Personality of Godhead: He is not affected by the qualities of material nature, even though He is in contact with them. Similarly, the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord do not become influenced by the material qualities.
Essence. The Lord is not affected by material qualities even when in contact with them; similarly, devotees who have taken shelter are not influenced. Shelter transfers immunity. Closeness to Him protects.
BG 11.39
The simple and delicate women truly thought that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, their beloved husband, followed them and was dominated by them. They were unaware of the extent of the glories of their husband, as the atheists are unaware of Him as the supreme controller.
Essence. The simple and delicate women thought Kṛṣṇa, their husband, was dominated by them — unaware of His glories, just as atheists are unaware of Him as the supreme. Familiarity can hide divinity. Loving familiarity that retains awe is rare.