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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
1.9.261.9.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.27

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

दानधर्मान् राजधर्मान् मोक्षधर्मान् विभागश: ।

स्त्रीधर्मान् भगवद्धर्मान् समासव्यासयोगत: ॥ २७ ॥

dāna-dharmān rāja-dharmān

mokṣa-dharmān vibhāgaśaḥ

strī-dharmān bhagavad-dharmān

samāsa-vyāsa-yogataḥ

Translation

He then explained, by divisions, acts of charity, the pragmatic activities of a king and activities for salvation. Then he described the duties of women and devotees, both briefly and extensively.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Return Our Energy to the Lord

  1. 1

    The world belongs to the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead; no one can claim to own anything independently. Charity for His service is one of the householder’s main duties.

  2. 2

    Our energy comes from the Lord and should return to Him through transcendental loving service. Offering our activities to Him purifies our energy and prepares us for our natural life of service.

  3. 3

    A king’s duty includes protecting the helpless and guiding people toward liberation. Human energy is meant for self-realization, not merely for fulfilling animal propensities.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore, in the life of a householder, which is a sort of license for sex enjoyment, one must give in charity for the service of the Lord.
  • The Lord, therefore, in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.27) says that whatever we do, whatever we undergo as penance, whatever we sacrifice, whatever we eat or whatever we give in charity must be offered to Him (the Lord).
  • The king had to see that the reserved energy of humanity was properly utilized.

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· 2

The purport of SB 1.9.27 quotesBG 9.27

The Lord, therefore, in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.27) says that whatever we do, whatever we undergo as penance, whatever we sacrifice, whatever we eat or whatever we give in charity must be offered to Him (the Lord).

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.12.1-2

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.9.27) Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira in dāna-dharma, or public acts of charity, rāja-dharma, or the duties of a king, mokṣa-dharma, or duties for salvation, strī-dharma, or duties for women, and ultimately bhāgavata-dharma, or pure devotional service to the Lord.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dāna-dharmānthe acts of charity
  2. rāja-dharmānpragmatic activities of the kings
  3. mokṣa-dharmānthe acts for salvation
  4. vibhāgaśaḥby divisions
  5. strī-dharmānduties of women
  6. bhagavat-dharmānthe acts of the devotees
  7. samāsagenerally
  8. vyāsaexplicitly
  9. yogataḥby means of
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “duties”, “duty”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 could I use something entrusted to me in the Lord’s service?

Practice

Set aside a small amount of money or a few minutes of your energy specifically for the Lord’s service today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReturn Our Energy to the LordThis 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 1.9.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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