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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 10: The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Rāmacandra
9.10.499.10.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.10.50

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.10.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अग्रहीदासनं भ्रात्रा प्रणिपत्य प्रसादित: ।

प्रजा: स्वधर्मनिरता वर्णाश्रमगुणान्विता: ।

जुगोप पितृवद् रामो मेनिरे पितरं च तम् ॥ ५० ॥

agrahīd āsanaṁ bhrātrā

praṇipatya prasāditaḥ

prajāḥ sva-dharma-niratā

varṇāśrama-guṇānvitāḥ

jugopa pitṛvad rāmo

menire pitaraṁ ca tam

Translation

Being pleased by the full surrender and submission of Lord Bharata, Lord Rāmacandra then accepted the throne of the state. He cared for the citizens exactly like a father, and the citizens, being fully engaged in their occupational duties of varṇa and āśrama, accepted Him as their father.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Good Government Leads Toward God Consciousness

  1. 1

    People cannot have the kingdom of God without God. Pleased by Bharata’s surrender, Lord Rāmacandra accepted the throne and cared for the citizens like a father.

  2. 2

    Good citizenship cannot be produced simply by enforcing laws; citizens must be trained. The divisions of varṇa are established according to qualities and work.

  3. 3

    The purpose of varṇa and āśrama is to enable people to become God conscious. Its goal is to train people to become Vaiṣṇavas who worship Lord Viṣṇu as the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Good government can exist when the relationship between the citizens and the government is like that exemplified by Lord Rāmacandra and His citizens.
  • Lord Rāmacandra ruled His kingdom exactly as a father takes care of his children, and the citizens, being obliged to the good government of Lord Rāmacandra, accepted the Lord as their father.
  • Thus people should be trained to become Vaiṣṇavas through the system of varṇa and āśrama, as they were during the reign of Lord Rāmacandra, when everyone was fully trained to follow the varṇāśrama principles.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 9.10.50 quotesBG 4.13

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.13), cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ: the four varṇas must be established according to varying qualities and work.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

When Lord Rāmacandra entered Ayodhyā, Bharata brought His wooden shoes, Vibhīṣaṇa and Sugrīva held a whisk and fan, Hanumān carried an umbrella, Śatrughna carried the Lord’s bow and two quivers, and Sītādevī carried a waterpot containing water from holy places. Aṅgada carried a sword, and Jāmbavān (Ṛkṣarāja) carried a shield.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.10
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. agrahītaccepted
  2. āsanamthe throne of the state
  3. bhrātrāby His brother (Bharata)
  4. praṇipatyaafter fully surrendering unto Him
  5. prasāditaḥhaving been pleased
  6. prajāḥand the citizens
  7. sva-dharma-niratāḥfully engaged in their respective occupational duties
  8. varṇāśramaaccording to the system of varṇa and āśrama
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.10

    In this verse: “duties”, “varṇa”, “āśrama”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.10

    In this verse: “citizens”, “kingdom”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.10

    In this verse: “father”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can my daily duties help me become more God conscious?

Practice

Choose one duty today and perform it carefully with the intention of pleasing the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGood Government Leads Toward God ConsciousnessThis 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 9.10.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.