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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
9.10.6-79.10.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.10.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.10.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

य: सत्यपाशपरिवीतपितुर्निदेशं

स्त्रैणस्य चापि शिरसा जगृहे सभार्य: ।

राज्यं श्रियं प्रणयिन: सुहृदो निवासं

त्यक्त्वा ययौ वनमसूनिव मुक्तसङ्ग: ॥ ८ ॥

yaḥ satya-pāśa-parivīta-pitur nideśaṁ

straiṇasya cāpi śirasā jagṛhe sabhāryaḥ

rājyaṁ śriyaṁ praṇayinaḥ suhṛdo nivāsaṁ

tyaktvā yayau vanam asūn iva mukta-saṅgaḥ

Translation

Carrying out the order of His father, who was bound by a promise to his wife, Lord Rāmacandra left behind His kingdom, opulence, friends, well-wishers, residence and everything else, just as a liberated soul gives up his life, and went to the forest with Sītā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honoring a Promise Without Material Attachment

  1. 1

    Kaikeyī requested that Bharata be enthroned and Rāmacandra be sent to the forest. Mahārāja Daśaratha was bound by his earlier promise to her.

  2. 2

    As an obedient son, Lord Rāmacandra accepted His father’s order immediately. He left His kingdom, opulence, friends and residence and went to the forest with Sītā.

  3. 3

    The Lord left everything without hesitation. His freedom from material attraction is compared to a liberated soul or great yogī giving up his life.

Key points from the purport
  • At the time of the coronation of Prince Rāmacandra, Kaikeyī requested her husband to enthrone her son Bharata and send Rāmacandra to the forest.
  • Mahārāja Daśaratha, being bound by his promise, ordered Rāmacandra to go to the forest, according to the dictation of his beloved.
  • He left everything without hesitation, just as a liberated soul or great yogī gives up his life without material attraction.

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

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:

To obey the order of His father, He entered the forest, accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā. There He cut off the nose of Śūrpaṇakhā and killed the associates of Rāvaṇa, headed by Khara and Dūṣaṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥLord Rāmacandra who
  2. satya-pāśa-parivīta-pituḥof His father, who was bound by the promise to his wife
  3. nideśamthe order
  4. straiṇasyaof the father who was very much attached to his wife
  5. caalso
  6. apiindeed
  7. śirasāon His head
  8. jagṛheaccepted
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “father”, “father’s”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.10

    In this verse: “kingdom”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 9.10

    In this verse: “friends”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When does attachment to comfort make it difficult for me to honor a commitment?

Practice

Fulfill one small promise today, even if it requires giving up a little comfort.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonoring a Promise Without Material AttachmentThis 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.

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