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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.
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Canto 1 · Chapter 9: The Passing Away of Bhīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
1.9.441.9.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.45

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.9.43inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत्र दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्देवमानववादिता: ।

शशंसु: साधवो राज्ञां खात्पेतु: पुष्पवृष्टय: ॥ ४५ ॥

tatra dundubhayo nedur

deva-mānava-vāditāḥ

śaśaṁsuḥ sādhavo rājñāṁ

khāt petuḥ puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, both men and demigods sounded drums in honor, and the honest royal order commenced demonstrations of honor and respect. And from the sky fell showers of flowers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Perfection Deserves Genuine Honor

  1. 1

    Human beings and demigods honored Bhīṣmadeva as a great warrior and devotee of the Lord. Through spiritual perfection, he was recognized as an authority on the level of Brahmā, Nārada and Śiva.

  2. 2

    Bhīṣmadeva’s body was surcharged with spiritual realization, like iron made red-hot by contact with fire. The purport therefore explains that the body of a fully self-realized soul is not accepted as material.

  3. 3

    The showers of flowers expressed genuine recognition of Bhīṣmadeva’s spiritual greatness. Such honor must not be artificially imitated for ordinary material distinction.

Key points from the purport
  • Bhīṣmadeva was respected both by the human beings and by the demigods.
  • When the distant planets were informed of the passing away of Bhīṣmadeva, all the inhabitants of the upper planets as well as of the earth dropped showers of flowers to show due respect to the departed great personality.
  • The body of Bhīṣmadeva lost its material effects due to being surcharged with spiritual realization, and thus the body was spiritualized as when iron becomes red-hot when in contact with fire.

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. tatrathereafter
  2. dundubhayaḥdrums
  3. neduḥwere sounded
  4. devathe demigods from other planets
  5. mānavamen from all countries
  6. vāditāḥbeaten by
  7. śaśaṁsuḥpraised
  8. sādhavaḥhonest
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “material”

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

Do I value spiritual realization and devotion more than material distinction?

Practice

Read one study point again and name one spiritual quality of Bhīṣmadeva that you wish to honor.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Perfection Deserves Genuine HonorThis 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 1.9.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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