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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
1.9.271.9.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.28

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

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षांश्च सहोपायान् यथा मुने ।

नानाख्यानेतिहासेषु वर्णयामास तत्त्ववित् ॥ २८ ॥

dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṁś ca

sahopāyān yathā mune

nānākhyānetihāseṣu

varṇayām āsa tattvavit

Translation

Then he described the occupational duties of different orders and statuses of life, citing instances from history, for he was himself well acquainted with the truth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learn from Sacred History

  1. 1

    Bhīṣmadeva knew the truth and explained the duties of different orders and statuses of life. He used historical narrations to answer Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s questions.

  2. 2

    The purport describes the accounts in the Purāṇas, Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa as factual historical narrations. They were gathered for instruction rather than arranged in chronological order.

  3. 3

    These accounts include events on different planets and in different universes, beyond our limited understanding. Our concern should be the instructive lessons they offer.

Key points from the purport
  • Incidents mentioned in the Vedic literatures such as the Purāṇas, Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa are factual historical narrations that took place sometime in the past, although not in any chronological order.
  • Besides that, they happen on different planets, nay, in different universes, and thus the description of the narrations is sometimes measured by three dimensions.
  • Bhīṣmadeva described such narrations before Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira in reply to his different questions.

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. dharmaoccupational duties
  2. arthaeconomic development
  3. kāmafulfillment of desires
  4. mokṣānultimate salvation
  5. caand
  6. sahaalong with
  7. upāyānmeans
  8. yathāas it is
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “narrations”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

Am I looking for the lesson in a sacred account, even when its setting exceeds my understanding?

Practice

Reread this verse and write one sentence about why Bhīṣmadeva used historical accounts to teach.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLearn from Sacred HistoryThis 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 1.9.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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