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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
  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
1.9.41.9.6-7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.9.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत्र ब्रह्मर्षय: सर्वे देवर्षयश्च सत्तम ।

राजर्षयश्च तत्रासन् द्रष्टुं भरतपुङ्गवम् ॥ ५ ॥

tatra brahmarṣayaḥ sarve

devarṣayaś ca sattama

rājarṣayaś ca tatrāsan

draṣṭuṁ bharata-puṅgavam

Translation

Just to see the chief of the descendants of King Bharata [Bhīṣma], all the great souls in the universe, namely the ṛṣis amongst the demigods, brāhmaṇas and kings, all situated in the quality of goodness, were assembled there.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Achievement Is Open to All

  1. 1

    Ṛṣis are those who have attained perfection through spiritual achievements. Such achievements are open to everyone, whether a king or a mendicant.

  2. 2

    Bhīṣmadeva was himself one of the brahmarṣis and the chief of King Bharata’s descendants.

  3. 3

    All ṛṣis are situated in the quality of goodness. Sages among demigods, brāhmaṇas and kings gathered upon hearing of Bhīṣmadeva’s approaching death.

Key points from the purport
  • The ṛṣis are those who have attained perfection by spiritual achievements.
  • Bhīṣmadeva himself was also one of the brahmarṣis and the chief of the descendants of King Bharata.
  • All ṛṣis are situated in the quality of goodness.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrathere
  2. brahma-ṛṣayaḥṛṣis among the brāhmaṇas
  3. sarveall
  4. deva-ṛṣayaḥṛṣis among the demigods
  5. caand
  6. sattamasituated in the quality of goodness
  7. rāja-ṛṣayaḥṛṣis among the kings
  8. caand
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.9

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

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 think my outward circumstances prevent me from making spiritual progress?

Practice

Set aside five minutes for spiritual study today, whatever your daily occupation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Achievement Is Open to AllThis 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 1.9.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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