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Canto 9 · Liberation · 24 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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 10: The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Rāmacandra
9.10.309.10.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.10.31

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.10.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राम: प्रियतमां भार्यां दीनां वीक्ष्यान्वकम्पत ।

आत्मसन्दर्शनाह्लादविकसन्मुखपङ्कजाम् ॥ ३१ ॥

rāmaḥ priyatamāṁ bhāryāṁ

dīnāṁ vīkṣyānvakampata

ātma-sandarśanāhlāda-

vikasan-mukha-paṅkajām

Translation

Seeing His wife in that condition, Lord Rāmacandra was very compassionate. When Rāmacandra came before her, she was exceedingly happy to see her beloved, and her lotuslike mouth showed her joy.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Compassion and Sītādevī’s Joy

  1. 1

    Lord Rāmacandra saw His wife’s distressed condition. He responded with great compassion.

  2. 2

    When He came before her, she was exceedingly happy to see her beloved. His presence brought her joy.

  3. 3

    Her lotuslike mouth showed her happiness. The verse brings together His compassion and her joy at seeing Him.

How it feels

Exile and separation → Loyalty and reunion. Duty, loss and sacrifice shape the dramatic center of this canto.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 9: The pastimes of Lord Rāmacandra. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Rāmacandra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then Samudra came to the Lord with great haste and surrendered to Him, wanting to help Him in every way. The Lord then attempted to bridge the ocean, and, with the help of advice from Vibhīṣaṇa, He attacked Rāvaṇa’s capital, Laṅkā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rāmaḥLord Rāmacandra
  2. priya-tamāmupon His dearmost
  3. bhāryāmwife
  4. dīnāmso poorly situated
  5. vīkṣyalooking
  6. anvakampatabecame very compassionate
  7. ātma-sandarśanawhen one sees his beloved
  8. āhlādaan ecstasy of joyful life
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 9.10

    In this verse: “compassionate”, “compassion”, “distressed”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What draws my heart toward Lord Rāmacandra in this meeting?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering Lord Rāmacandra’s compassion and Sītādevī’s joy at seeing Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Compassion and Sītādevī’s JoyThis 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 9.10.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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