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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 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 1 · Chapter 9: The Passing Away of Bhīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
1.9.191.9.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.20

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Bhīṣmadevasince 1.9.12inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

यं मन्यसे मातुलेयं प्रियं मित्रं सुहृत्तमम् ।

अकरो: सचिवं दूतं सौहृदादथ सारथिम् ॥ २० ॥

yaṁ manyase mātuleyaṁ

priyaṁ mitraṁ suhṛttamam

akaroḥ sacivaṁ dūtaṁ

sauhṛdād atha sārathim

Translation

O King, that personality whom, out of ignorance only, you thought to be your maternal cousin, your very dear friend, well-wisher, counselor, messenger, benefactor, etc., is that very Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Divine Service Does Not Diminish Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Although Śrī Kṛṣṇa acted as the Pāṇḍavas’ cousin, friend, counselor and messenger, He remained the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Out of causeless mercy and favor toward His unalloyed devotees, He performs all kinds of service. Such service never changes His position as the Absolute Person.

  3. 3

    To consider Him an ordinary human being is profound ignorance. His familiar dealings reveal His mercy, not a loss of divinity.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, although acting as the cousin, brother, friend, well-wisher, counselor, messenger, benefactor, etc., of the Pāṇḍavas, was still the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Out of His causeless mercy and favor upon His unalloyed devotees, He performs all kinds of service, but that does not mean that He has changed His position as the Absolute Person.
  • To think of Him as an ordinary man is the grossest type of ignorance.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Grief → Trust. Violence and bereavement make Kṛṣṇa's protective presence precious.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 1: Postwar anguish, Kuntī and Bhīṣma. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 9: The Passing Away of Bhīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Bhīṣmadeva instructs Yudhiṣṭhira and fixes his attention on Kṛṣṇa as he prepares to pass away.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yamthe person
  2. manyaseyou think
  3. mātuleyammaternal cousin
  4. priyamvery dear
  5. mitramfriend
  6. suhṛt-tamamardent well-wisher
  7. akaroḥexecuted
  8. sacivamcounsel
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”, “favor”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “king”

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

Can I appreciate the Lord’s affectionate service without forgetting His supreme position?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of gratitude for Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s kindness to His devotees, remembering that He remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDivine Service Does Not Diminish KṛṣṇaThis 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 1.9.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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