1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 9 · Liberation · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
9.11.229.11.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.11.23

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.11.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पुरुषो रामचरितं श्रवणैरुपधारयन् ।

आनृशंस्यपरो राजन् कर्मबन्धैर्विमुच्यते ॥ २३ ॥

puruṣo rāma-caritaṁ

śravaṇair upadhārayan

ānṛśaṁsya-paro rājan

karma-bandhair vimucyate

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, anyone who aurally receives the narrations concerning the characteristics of Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes will ultimately be freed from the disease of envy and thus be liberated from the bondage of fruitive activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing About the Lord Removes Envy

  1. 1

    Hearing the narrations of Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes frees one from envy and the bondage of fruitive activities.

  2. 2

    Envy arises from identifying with the body. A devotee trusts the Lord’s protection and is not envious even of an enemy.

  3. 3

    Envy of other devotees is a great offense, called vaiṣṇava-aparādha. Constant hearing and chanting frees one from envy and makes one eligible to return to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • One becomes envious because of being influenced by the designations of the body, but the liberated devotee has nothing to do with the body, and therefore he is completely on the transcendental platform.
  • A devotee must therefore be completely free from envy, especially of other devotees.
  • A devotee who constantly engages in hearing and chanting (śravaṇa-kīrtana) is certainly freed from the disease of envy, and thus he becomes eligible to go back home, back to Godhead.

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 11: Lord Rāmacandra Rules the World

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Upon hearing of this, Lord Rāmacandra was very much aggrieved, and thus He performed sacrifices for thirteen thousand years. After describing the pastimes of Lord Rāmacandra’s disappearance and establishing that the Lord appears for His pastimes only, Śukadeva Gosvāmī ends this chapter by describing the results of hearing about the activities of Lord Rāmacandra and by describing how the Lord protected His citizens and displayed affection for His brothers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. puruṣaḥany person
  2. rāma-caritamthe narration concerning the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Rāmacandra
  3. śravaṇaiḥby aural reception
  4. upadhārayansimply by this process of hearing
  5. ānṛśaṁsya-paraḥbecomes completely free from envy
  6. rājanO King Parīkṣit
  7. karma-bandhaiḥby the bondage of fruitive activities
  8. vimucyateone becomes liberated
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “narrations”, “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.11

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 9.11

    In this verse: “protection”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When another devotee advances, can I appreciate that progress rather than compare myself with them?

Practice

Read aloud a short passage about Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes, giving your attention to hearing it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing About the Lord Removes EnvyThis 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 9.11.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories