Canto & Chapters
Creation (19 Chapters)
Chapter 123v
Questions by the Sages
Chapter 233v
Divinity and Divine Service
Chapter 344v
Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations
Chapter 431v
The Appearance of Śrī Nārada
Chapter 540v
Nārada’s Instructions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Vyāsadeva
Chapter 638v
Conversation Between Nārada and Vyāsadeva
Chapter 756v
The Son of Droṇa Punished
Chapter 852v
Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved
Chapter 948v
The Passing Away of Bhīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
Chapter 1033v
Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Dvārakā
Chapter 1137v
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance into Dvārakā
Chapter 1236v
Birth of Emperor Parīkṣit
Chapter 1359v
Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home
Chapter 1441v
The Disappearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
Chapter 1548v
The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely
Chapter 1629v
How Parīkṣit Received the Age of Kali
Chapter 1743v
Punishment and Reward of Kali
Chapter 1849v
Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy
Chapter 1939v
The Appearance of Śukadeva Gosvāmī
Canto 1, Chapter 11
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance into Dvārakā
Verse 20 (SB 1.11.20)
SB 1.11.20 • मूल श्लोक
नटनर्तकगन्धर्वा: सूतमागधवन्दिन: । गायन्ति चोत्तमश्लोकचरितान्यद्भुतानि च ॥ २० ॥
Transliteration
naṭa-nartaka-gandharvāḥ sūta-māgadha-vandinaḥ gāyanti cottamaśloka- caritāny adbhutāni ca
Synonyms (Word-for-Word)
naṭa — dramatists; nartaka — dancers; gandharvāḥ — celestial singers; sūta — professional historians; māgadha — professional genealogists; vandinaḥ — professional learned speakers; gāyanti — chant; ca — respectively; uttamaśloka — the Supreme Lord; caritāni — activities; adbhutāni — all superhuman; ca — and.
Translation
“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.”
Bhaktivedanta Purport
By Śrīla PrabhupādaIt appears that five thousand years ago the society also needed the services of the dramatists, artists, dancers, singers, historians, genealogists, public speakers, etc. Dancers, singers and dramatic artists mostly hailed from the śūdra community, whereas the learned historians, genealogists and public speakers hailed from the brāhmaṇa community. All of them belonged to a particular caste, and they became so trained in their respective families. Such dramatists, dancers, singers, historians, genealogists and public speakers would dwell on the subject of the Lord’s superhuman activities in different ages and millenniums, and not on ordinary events. Nor were they in chronological order. All the Purāṇas are historical facts described only in relation with the Supreme Lord in different ages and times as well as on different planets also. Therefore, we do not find any chronological order. The modern historians, therefore, cannot catch up the link, and thus they unauthoritatively remark that the Purāṇas are all imaginary stories only.
Even one hundred years ago in India, all dramatic performances were centered around the superhuman activities of the Supreme Lord. The common people would be verily entertained by the performances of dramas, and yātrā parties played wonderfully on the superhuman activities of the Lord, and thus even the illiterate agriculturist would be a participant in the knowledge of Vedic literature, despite a considerable lack of academic qualifications. Therefore, expert players in drama, dancers, singers, speakers, etc., are required for the spiritual enlightenment of the common man. The genealogists would give account completely of the descendants of a particular family. Even at the present moment the guides in the pilgrimage sites of India submit a complete account of genealogical tables before a newcomer. This wonderful act sometimes attracts more customers to receive such important information.