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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
1.9.361.9.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.37

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

स्वनिगममपहाय मत्प्रतिज्ञा-

मृतमधिकर्तुमवप्लुतो रथस्थ: ।

धृतरथचरणोऽभ्ययाच्चलद्गु-

र्हरिरिव हन्तुमिभं गतोत्तरीय: ॥ ३७ ॥

sva-nigamam apahāya mat-pratijñām

ṛtam adhikartum avapluto rathasthaḥ

dhṛta-ratha-caraṇo ’bhyayāc caladgur

harir iva hantum ibhaṁ gatottarīyaḥ

Translation

Fulfilling my vow and sacrificing His own promise, He got down from the chariot, took up its wheel, and ran towards me hurriedly, just as a lion goes to kill an elephant. He even dropped His outer garment on the way.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Fulfills His Devotee’s Promise

  1. 1

    Bhīṣmadeva vowed that Kṛṣṇa would have to take up weapons or Arjuna would die. He wanted to see the Lord take up a weapon to save His friend.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa considered fulfilling Bhīṣmadeva’s promise more important than keeping His own promise to remain without weapons. He took up a chariot wheel and rushed toward Bhīṣmadeva to protect Arjuna.

  3. 3

    Bhīṣmadeva laid down his weapons and stood ready to be killed by his beloved Lord. Arjuna’s danger was only apparent, for the Lord Himself was present to protect him.

Key points from the purport
  • By tricks Arjuna took the arrows from Duryodhana, and Bhīṣmadeva could understand that this was the trick of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • So he took a vow that the next day Kṛṣṇa would have to take up weapons Himself, otherwise His friend Arjuna would die.
  • But to protect Arjuna He got down from the chariot, took up the wheel of the chariot and hurriedly rushed at Bhīṣmadeva in an angry mood, as a lion goes to kill an elephant.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 10.175

Concerning this, the words of Bhīṣma in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.9.37) are important:

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 16.145

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.9.37).

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. sva-nigamamown truthfulness
  2. apahāyafor nullifying
  3. mat-pratijñāmmy own promise
  4. ṛtamfactual
  5. adhimore
  6. kartumfor doing it
  7. avaplutaḥgetting down
  8. ratha-sthaḥfrom the chariot
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “danger”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friend”

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

What does Kṛṣṇa’s eagerness to please Bhīṣmadeva reveal about His affection for His devotees?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering Kṛṣṇa taking up the wheel to protect Arjuna and fulfill Bhīṣmadeva’s promise.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Fulfills His Devotee’s PromiseThis 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 1.9.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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