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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
9.13.269.14.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.13.27

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.13.27inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एते वै मैथिला राजन्नात्मविद्याविशारदा: ।

योगेश्वरप्रसादेन द्वन्द्वैर्मुक्ता गृहेष्वपि ॥ २७ ॥

ete vai maithilā rājann

ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ

yogeśvara-prasādena

dvandvair muktā gṛheṣv api

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King Parīkṣit, all the kings of the dynasty of Mithila were completely in knowledge of their spiritual identity. Therefore, even though staying at home, they were liberated from the duality of material existence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remain Kṛṣṇa Conscious Through Life’s Dualities

  1. 1

    The kings of the dynasty of Mithila fully knew their spiritual identity. Even while staying at home, they were liberated from the duality of material existence.

  2. 2

    Material happiness and distress come and go like changing seasons. The liberated person, above the influence of the three modes of material nature, tolerates these dualities without being disturbed.

  3. 3

    Those who are liberated remain on the transcendental platform of rendering service to the Lord. The goal is to remain Kṛṣṇa conscious in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, rather than seek temporary material happiness.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore, in this world, to distinguish between good and bad, happiness and distress, is meaningless because they are both mental concoctions (manodharma).
  • Those who are liberated, being on the transcendental platform of rendering service to the Lord, do not care about so-called happiness and distress.
  • It is understood herewith that the kings born in the dynasty of Mithila were all liberated persons, unaffected by the so-called happiness and distress of this world.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 9.13.27 quotesCC Antya 4.176

The Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 4.176) says: ‘dvaite’ bhadrābhadra-jñāna, saba — ‘manodharma’

The purport of SB 9.13.27 quotesBG 2.14

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (2.14): “O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

All of these sons were great self-controlled personalities. This completes the list of the entire dynasty.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eteall of them
  2. vaiindeed
  3. maithilāḥthe descendants of Mithila
  4. rājanO King
  5. ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥexpert in spiritual knowledge
  6. yogeśvara-prasādenaby the grace of Yogeśvara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa
  7. dvandvaiḥ muktāḥthey were all freed from the duality of the material world
  8. gṛheṣu apieven though staying at home
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “king”, “kings”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 I remain steady in service to Kṛṣṇa when happiness or distress comes?

Practice

When a small discomfort arises today, pause and remember that it will pass, then continue one act of service to Kṛṣṇa without letting the discomfort interrupt it.

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 todayRemain Kṛṣṇa Conscious Through Life’s DualitiesThis 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 9.13.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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