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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
1.9.421.9.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.43

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.9.43inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

कृष्ण एवं भगवति मनोवाग्द‍ृष्टिवृत्तिभि: ।

आत्मन्यात्मानमावेश्य सोऽन्त:श्वास उपारमत् ॥ ४३ ॥

sūta uvāca

kṛṣṇa evaṁ bhagavati

mano-vāg-dṛṣṭi-vṛttibhiḥ

ātmany ātmānam āveśya

so ’ntaḥśvāsa upāramat

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus Bhīṣmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Practice Devotion With Undivided Attention

  1. 1

    Bhīṣmadeva concentrated his mind, speech, sight and actions upon Kṛṣṇa without deviation. This complete absorption in the Lord is called nirvikalpa-samādhi.

  2. 2

    Everyone can approach this perfection through devotional service. Any one or all of its nine activities can award the desired result when practiced persistently under an expert devotee’s guidance.

  3. 3

    Hearing is the most important activity, so hearing Bhagavad-gītā and then Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is essential. These scriptures are sound incarnations of the Lord, making His presence available even when He is not personally visible.

Key points from the purport
  • The stage attained by Bhīṣmadeva while quitting his material body is called nirvikalpa-samādhi because he merged his self into thinking of the Lord and his mind into remembering His different activities.
  • He chanted the glories of the Lord, and by his sight he began to see the Lord personally present before him, and thus all his activities became concentrated upon the Lord without deviation.
  • They are sound incarnations of the Lord, and one can fully utilize them to be entitled to attain the stage of Śrī Bhīṣmadeva, who was one of the eight Vasus.

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. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. kṛṣṇeLord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. evamonly
  4. bhagavatiunto Him
  5. manaḥwith mind
  6. vākspeech
  7. dṛṣṭisight
  8. vṛttibhiḥactivities
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee’s”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 small change would help you hear about Kṛṣṇa with less distraction?

Practice

Set aside five uninterrupted minutes to hear Bhagavad-gītā, giving your full attention to the words.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPractice Devotion With Undivided AttentionThis 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 1.9.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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