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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
1.9.251.9.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.26

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.9.25inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

पुरुषस्वभावविहितान् यथावर्णं यथाश्रमम् ।

वैराग्यरागोपाधिभ्यामाम्नातोभयलक्षणान् ॥ २६ ॥

puruṣa-sva-bhāva-vihitān

yathā-varṇaṁ yathāśramam

vairāgya-rāgopādhibhyām

āmnātobhaya-lakṣaṇān

Translation

At Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry, Bhīṣmadeva first defined all the classifications of castes and orders of life in terms of the individual’s qualifications. Then he systematically, in twofold divisions, described counteraction by detachment and interaction by attachment.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Develop Qualities That Support Spiritual Life

  1. 1

    Bhīṣmadeva classified social duties and orders of life according to individual qualifications. The Lord’s arrangement of varṇāśrama-dharma is meant to develop spiritual qualities and free one from material bondage.

  2. 2

    Bhīṣmadeva taught basic qualities for everyone, including truthfulness, forgiveness, cleanliness, simplicity and freedom from hostility. Each occupation also requires its own qualities and responsible conduct.

  3. 3

    Sense control is essential for intelligent people and forms the basis of morality. To learn Vedic knowledge, one should approach a person fully engaged in devotional service and seriously study the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā.

Key points from the purport
  • The conception of four castes and four orders of life, as planned by the Lord Himself (Bg. 4.13), is to accelerate transcendental qualities of the individual person so that he may gradually realize his spiritual identity and thus act accordingly to get free from material bondage, or conditional life.
  • Besides these, the brāhmaṇas (the intelligent men), the administrative men, the mercantile community and the laborer class must acquire special qualities in terms of occupational duties mentioned in all the Vedic scriptures.
  • The śūdra class is less intelligent and should have no independence.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 1.9.26 quotesBG 4.13

The conception of four castes and four orders of life, as planned by the Lord Himself, is to accelerate transcendental qualities of the individual person so that he may gradually realize his spiritual identity and thus act accordingly to get free from material bondage, or conditional life.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. puruṣathe human being
  2. sva-bhāvaby his own acquired qualities
  3. vihitānprescribed
  4. yathāaccording to
  5. varṇamclassification of castes
  6. yathāaccording to
  7. āśramamorders of life
  8. vairāgyadetachment
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “inquiry”, “knowledge”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “detachment”

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

Which quality taught by Bhīṣmadeva most needs my attention today?

Practice

Choose one conversation today in which to practice truthfulness and avoid an angry reply.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevelop Qualities That Support Spiritual LifeThis 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.

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