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

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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
9.11.59.11.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.11.6

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.11.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अप्रत्तं नस्त्वया किं नु भगवन् भुवनेश्वर ।

यन्नोऽन्तर्हृदयं विश्य तमो हंसि स्वरोचिषा ॥ ६ ॥

aprattaṁ nas tvayā kiṁ nu

bhagavan bhuvaneśvara

yan no ’ntar-hṛdayaṁ viśya

tamo haṁsi sva-rociṣā

Translation

O Lord, You are the master of the entire universe. What have You not given to us? You have entered the core of our hearts and dissipated the darkness of our ignorance by Your effulgence. This is the supreme gift. We do not need a material donation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Seeks No Material Profit

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇas called the Lord’s removal of ignorance from their hearts the supreme gift. Having received this enlightenment, they did not need a material donation.

  2. 2

    A devotee should not serve like a merchant seeking profit in exchange. Devotion undertaken for material gain is not pure devotion.

  3. 3

    Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas are directed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the heart and possess what is necessary. Wanting more and more for personal sense gratification is ignorance.

Key points from the purport
  • When Dhruva Mahārāja was offered a benediction by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he replied, “O my Lord, I am fully satisfied.
  • Brāhmaṇas are always enlightened by the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the heart (sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca).
  • And because the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas are always directed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are not greedy for material wealth.

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:

They regarded the enlightenment given to them by the Lord within the core of their hearts as a sufficient contribution. Lord Rāmacandra subsequently dressed Himself like an ordinary person and began wandering within the capital to understand what impression the citizens had of Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.11
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aprattamnot given
  2. naḥunto us
  3. tvayāby Your Lordship
  4. kimwhat
  5. nuindeed
  6. bhagavanO Supreme Lord
  7. bhuvana-īśvaraO master of the whole universe
  8. yatbecause
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.11

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I approach devotional service for its own sake, or mainly for what I hope to receive?

Practice

Offer one prayer today asking for freedom from ignorance rather than material gain.

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 todayDevotion Seeks No Material ProfitThis 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 9.11.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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