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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
9.13.119.13.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.13.12

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 9.13.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अराजकभयं नृणां मन्यमाना महर्षय: ।

देहं ममन्थु: स्म निमे: कुमार: समजायत ॥ १२ ॥

arājaka-bhayaṁ nṝṇāṁ

manyamānā maharṣayaḥ

dehaṁ mamanthuḥ sma nimeḥ

kumāraḥ samajāyata

Translation

Thereafter, to save the people from the danger of an unregulated government, the sages churned Mahārāja Nimi’s material body, from which, as a result, a son was born.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Leadership Means Protecting the People

  1. 1

    The sages considered the danger an unregulated government posed to the people. They churned Mahārāja Nimi’s material body, and a son was born to guide the citizens.

  2. 2

    A kṣatriya is one who saves citizens from injury. Such a ruler needs training from learned brāhmaṇas who are expert in the śāstras.

  3. 3

    The purport contrasts protecting one’s political position with caring for the citizens’ happiness. It teaches that leaders should be trained and rule according to authorized scriptures.

Key points from the purport
  • If the government is unsteady and unregulated, there is danger of fear for the people.
  • Gradually the democratic government is becoming unfit for the needs of the people, and therefore some parties are trying to elect a dictator.
  • Actually people will be happy when a trained leader, whether a monarch or a dictator, takes control of the government and rules the people according to the standard regulations of the authorized scriptures.

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:

The great sages then churned Nimi’s body, and as a result of this churning, Janaka was born. The son of Janaka was Udāvasu, and the son of Udāvasu was Nandivardhana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arājaka-bhayamdue to fear of the danger of an unregulated government
  2. nṝṇāmfor the people in general
  3. manyamānāḥconsidering this situation
  4. mahā-ṛṣayaḥthe great sages
  5. dehamthe body
  6. mamanthuḥchurned
  7. smain the past
  8. nimeḥof Mahārāja Nimi
  9. kumāraḥone son
  10. samajāyatawas thus born
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “government”, “ruler”, “citizens”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “danger”

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

When I have responsibility for others, do I care more about their welfare or my position?

Practice

In one responsibility today, take a small action that protects someone’s welfare rather than your own status.

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 9.13's connections

Live this todayLeadership Means Protecting the PeopleThis 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 9.13.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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