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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
1.9.481.10.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.49

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.9.43inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

पित्रा चानुमतो राजा वासुदेवानुमोदित: ।

चकार राज्यं धर्मेण पितृपैतामहं विभु: ॥ ४९ ॥

pitrā cānumato rājā

vāsudevānumoditaḥ

cakāra rājyaṁ dharmeṇa

pitṛ-paitāmahaṁ vibhuḥ

Translation

After this, the great religious King, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, executed the royal power in the kingdom strictly according to the codes of royal principles approved by his uncle and confirmed by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Leadership Must Support Spiritual Welfare

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was not merely a tax collector. A king’s responsibility, like that of a father or spiritual master, includes the citizens’ social, political, economic and spiritual welfare.

  2. 2

    Human life is meant to free the soul from the bondage of material conditions. A ruler must care for the citizens so that they can attain this highest perfection.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira strictly followed the codes of royal principles, with his experienced uncle’s approval and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s confirmation. The purport presents him as an ideal, properly trained monarch.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was not a mere tax collector.
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira followed these principles strictly, as will be seen from the next chapter.
  • Therefore, votes cast by them actually have no value, and thus persons elected by such irresponsible votes cannot be responsible representatives like Mahārāja 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. pitrāby his uncle, Dhṛtarāṣṭra
  2. caand
  3. anumataḥwith his approval
  4. rājāKing Yudhiṣṭhira
  5. vāsudeva-anumoditaḥconfirmed by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
  6. cakāraexecuted
  7. rājyamthe kingdom
  8. dharmeṇain compliance with the codes of royal principles
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”, “king’s”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “welfare”

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 consider spiritual welfare as well as material needs when caring for others?

Practice

In one responsibility today, consider both the practical and spiritual welfare of the person affected before you act.

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 · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayLeadership Must Support Spiritual WelfareThis 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 1.9.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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