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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 11: Lord Rāmacandra Rules the World
9.11.209.11.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.11.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.11.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यस्यामलं नृपसद:सु यशोऽधुनापि

गायन्त्यघघ्नमृषयो दिगिभेन्द्रपट्टम् ।

तं नाकपालवसुपालकिरीटजुष्ट-

पादाम्बुजं रघुपतिं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ २१ ॥

yasyāmalaṁ nṛpa-sadaḥsu yaśo ’dhunāpi

gāyanty agha-ghnam ṛṣayo dig-ibhendra-paṭṭam

taṁ nākapāla-vasupāla-kirīṭa-juṣṭa-

pādāmbujaṁ raghupatiṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye

Translation

Lord Rāmacandra’s spotless name and fame, which vanquish all sinful reactions, are celebrated in all directions, like the ornamental cloth of the victorious elephant that conquers all directions. Great saintly persons like Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi still glorify His characteristics in the assemblies of great emperors like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. Similarly, all the saintly kings and all the demigods, including Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā, worship the Lord by bowing down with their helmets. Let me offer my obeisances unto His lotus feet.

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.

Glorify the Lord and Offer Obeisances

  1. 1

    Lord Rāmacandra’s spotless name and fame vanquish all sinful reactions. His glories are celebrated in all directions.

  2. 2

    Great saintly persons like Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi glorify His characteristics in assemblies of great emperors like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.

  3. 3

    Saintly kings and demigods, including Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā, bow down to worship Him. The translation concludes by offering obeisances unto His lotus feet.

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 11: Lord Rāmacandra Rules the World

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Rāmacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, performed various sacrifices by which to worship Himself, and at the end of these sacrifices He gave land to the hotā, adhvaryu, udgātā and brahmā priests. He gave them the eastern, western, northern and southern directions respectively, and the balance He gave to the ācārya.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyawhose (Lord Rāmacandra’s)
  2. amalamspotless, free from material qualities
  3. nṛpa-sadaḥsuin the assembly of great emperors like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira
  4. yaśaḥfamous glories
  5. adhunā apieven today
  6. gāyantiglorify
  7. agha-ghnamwhich vanquish all sinful reactions
  8. ṛṣayaḥgreat saintly persons like Mārkaṇḍeya
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 9.11

    In this verse: “kings”, “emperors”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.11

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 9.11

    In this verse: “glorify”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I join in honoring Lord Rāmacandra’s spotless name and fame?

Practice

Say Lord Rāmacandra’s name attentively and offer a respectful bow to His lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.11's connections

Live this todayGlorify the Lord and Offer ObeisancesThis 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 9.11.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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