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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

1.9.31 1.9.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Bhīṣmadevasince 1.9.32inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

श्रीभीष्म उवाच

इति मतिरुपकल्पिता वितृष्णा

भगवति सात्वतपुङ्गवे विभूम्नि ।

स्वसुखमुपगते क्‍वचिद्विहर्तुं

प्रकृतिमुपेयुषि यद्भ‍वप्रवाह: ॥ ३२ ॥

śrī-bhīṣma uvāca

iti matir upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā

bhagavati sātvata-puṅgave vibhūmni

sva-sukham upagate kvacid vihartuṁ

prakṛtim upeyuṣi yad-bhava-pravāhaḥ

Translation

Bhīṣmadeva said: Let me now invest my thinking, feeling and willing, which were so long engaged in different subjects and occupational duties, in the all-powerful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is always self-satisfied, but sometimes, being the leader of the devotees, He enjoys transcendental pleasure by descending to the material world, although from Him only the material world is created.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify Desires Through Devotional Service

1
Bhīṣmadeva’s thinking, feeling and willing had been occupied with many responsibilities. He now wanted to invest all these powers entirely in Lord Kṛṣṇa to achieve pure devotional service.
2
Desires need not be wiped out; they need to be purified. Pure devotees desire only the Lord’s service, and He guides them from within the heart toward returning to Godhead.
3
Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead, self-satisfied and all-powerful. He descends by His own will to give His pure devotees devotional service and enjoy their association, never being forced by material nature.

Key points from the purport

Although Lord Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead, He Himself descends to earth to bestow upon His pure devotees the boon of devotional service.
Pure devotees of the Lord have no desire other than the service of the Lord, and therefore they are called sātvata.
The Lord also desires the association of His pure devotees, and for them only the Lord descends to the earth and enlivens them.

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 1.9.32 quotesBG 10.10

It is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.10) by the Lord Himself that He gives His instruction from within the heart of a pure devotee who is constantly engaged in the service of 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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-bhīṣmaḥ uvācaŚrī Bhīṣmadeva said
itithus
matiḥthinking, feeling and willing
upakalpitāinvested
vitṛṣṇāfreed from all sense desires
bhagavatiunto the Personality of Godhead
sātvata-puṅgaveunto the leader of the devotees
vibhūmniunto the great

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.9
In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.9
In this verse: “material”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.9
In this verse: “duties”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which desire could I redirect toward the Lord’s service rather than simply trying to suppress it?

Practice

Write down one desire and one small way to turn it toward service to Lord Kṛṣṇa today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurify Desires Through Devotional ServiceThis 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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