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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
1.9.21.9.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.9.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

भगवानपि विप्रर्षे रथेन सधनञ्जय: ।

स तैर्व्यरोचत नृप: कुवेर इव गुह्यकै: ॥ ३ ॥

bhagavān api viprarṣe

rathena sa-dhanañjayaḥ

sa tair vyarocata nṛpaḥ

kuvera iva guhyakaiḥ

Translation

O sage amongst the brāhmaṇas, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, also followed, seated on a chariot with Arjuna. Thus King Yudhiṣṭhira appeared very aristocratic, like Kuvera surrounded by his companions [the Guhyakas].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Arranges Pleasure for Bhīṣmadeva

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, accompanied the procession on a chariot with Arjuna.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa wanted the Pāṇḍavas to appear before Bhīṣmadeva in royal splendor. Seeing them happy would please Bhīṣmadeva at the time of his death.

  3. 3

    Yudhiṣṭhira appeared like Kuvera surrounded by his companions. The procession with Śrī Kṛṣṇa was appropriate to his royal position.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa wanted the Pāṇḍavas to be present before Bhīṣmadeva in the most aristocratic order so that he might be pleased to see them happy at the time of his death.
  • Kuvera is the richest of all the demigods, and herein King Yudhiṣṭhira appeared like him (Kuvera), for the procession along with Śrī Kṛṣṇa was quite appropriate to the royalty of King Yudhiṣṭhira.

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. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
  2. apialso
  3. vipra-ṛṣeO sage among the brāhmaṇas
  4. rathenaon the chariot
  5. sa-dhanañjayaḥwith Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
  6. saḥHe
  7. taiḥby them
  8. vyarocataappeared to be highly aristocratic
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “companions”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “death”

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 my presence bring comfort to someone nearing the end of life?

Practice

Make a brief, warm call or visit to someone who would be pleased to see or hear from you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Arranges Pleasure for BhīṣmadevaThis 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 1.9.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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