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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 13: The Dynasty of Mahārāja Nimi
9.13.109.13.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.13.11

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 9.13.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

देवा ऊचु:

विदेह उष्यतां कामं लोचनेषु शरीरिणाम् ।

उन्मेषणनिमेषाभ्यां लक्षितोऽध्यात्मसंस्थित: ॥ ११ ॥

devā ūcuḥ

videha uṣyatāṁ kāmaṁ

locaneṣu śarīriṇām

unmeṣaṇa-nimeṣābhyāṁ

lakṣito ’dhyātma-saṁsthitaḥ

Translation

The demigods said: Let Mahārāja Nimi live without a material body. Let him live in a spiritual body as a personal associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and, according to his desire, let him be manifest or unmanifest to common materially embodied people.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Life Beyond the Material Body

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Nimi did not want another material body. He received the benediction to live in his original spiritual body as an associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    A purely spiritual body is free from both gross and subtle material contamination. It is not a ghostly body, which still consists of material mind, intelligence and ego.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and seeing Him depends on His mercy, not material senses. The path is devotional service, through which one advances in spiritual life.

Key points from the purport
  • The demigods wanted Mahārāja Nimi to come to life, but Mahārāja Nimi did not want to accept another material body.
  • Thus the demigods gave King Nimi the benediction that he would be able to stay in a purely spiritual body, free from all gross and subtle material contamination.
  • Thus he lived in his original, spiritual body as an associate of the Supreme Personality of 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

Longing and conflict → Detachment and justice. Dynastic episodes explore personal desire and force.

Chapters 13–17 of Canto 9: Nimi, Purūravā and Paraśurāma. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: The Dynasty of Mahārāja Nimi

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When the sacrifice was over, the priests prayed for Nimi’s life to all the demigods who had come to the arena of yajña, but Mahārāja Nimi refused to take birth again in a material body because he considered the material body obnoxious. The great sages then churned Nimi’s body, and as a result of this churning, Janaka was born.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.13
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. devāḥ ūcuḥthe demigods said
  2. videhaḥwithout any material body
  3. uṣyatāmyou live
  4. kāmamas you like
  5. locaneṣuin the vision
  6. śarīriṇāmof those who have material bodies
  7. unmeṣaṇa-nimeṣābhyāmbecome manifest and unmanifest as you desire
  8. lakṣitaḥbeing seen
  9. adhyātma-saṁsthitaḥsituated in a spiritual body
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “devotional service”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can remembering that seeing Kṛṣṇa depends on His mercy shape my devotional service?

Practice

Today, speak Kṛṣṇa’s name with attention and ask for His mercy to advance in devotional service.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Life Beyond the Material BodyThis 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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