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

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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
1.9.201.9.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.21

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

सर्वात्मन: समद‍ृशो ह्यद्वयस्यानहङ्‍कृते: ।

तत्कृतं मतिवैषम्यं निरवद्यस्य न क्‍वचित् ॥ २१ ॥

sarvātmanaḥ sama-dṛśo

hy advayasyānahaṅkṛteḥ

tat-kṛtaṁ mati-vaiṣamyaṁ

niravadyasya na kvacit

Translation

Being the Absolute Personality of Godhead, He is present in everyone’s heart. He is equally kind to everyone, and He is free from the false ego of differentiation. Therefore whatever He does is free from material inebriety. He is equibalanced.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Serves Through Love

  1. 1

    The Lord is present everywhere through His energies and in everyone’s heart as Paramātmā, the Supersoul. He already guides and counsels all living beings.

  2. 2

    He is equally kind to everyone and free from material false ego. Becoming Arjuna’s chariot driver does not lower His exalted position.

  3. 3

    The power of pure devotional service brings the affectionate Lord to serve His devotee. For Him, there is no material distinction between superior and inferior action.

Key points from the purport
  • When He, therefore, exhibits Himself as chariot driver of Arjuna, there is no change in His exalted position.
  • Being the Absolute Personality of Godhead, He has no false ego, and so He does not identify Himself with anything different from Him.
  • He does not feel, therefore, inferior by becoming the chariot driver of His pure devotee.

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. sarva-ātmanaḥof one who is present in everyone’s heart
  2. sama-dṛśaḥof one who is equally kind to one and all
  3. hicertainly
  4. advayasyaof the Absolute
  5. anahaṅkṛteḥfree from all material identity of false ego
  6. tat-kṛtameverything done by Him
  7. maticonsciousness
  8. vaiṣamyamdifferentiation
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “free from”

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

How does the Lord’s freedom from false pride challenge my reluctance to perform humble service?

Practice

Perform one humble act of service today without seeking recognition, remembering the affectionate Lord’s willingness to serve His devotee.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Serves Through LoveThis 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 1.9.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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