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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 13: The Dynasty of Mahārāja Nimi
9.13.59.13.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.13.6

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.13.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इत्युत्ससर्ज स्वं देहं निमिरध्यात्मकोविद: ।

मित्रावरुणयोर्जज्ञे उर्वश्यां प्रपितामह: ॥ ६ ॥

ity utsasarja svaṁ dehaṁ

nimir adhyātma-kovidaḥ

mitrā-varuṇayor jajñe

urvaśyāṁ prapitāmahaḥ

Translation

After saying this, Mahārāja Nimi, who was expert in the science of spiritual knowledge, gave up his body. Vasiṣṭha, the great-grandfather, gave up his body also, but through the semen discharged by Mitra and Varuṇa when they saw Urvaśī, he was born again.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Even Great Saints Struggle With Lust

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Nimi, who was expert in spiritual knowledge, gave up his body. Vasiṣṭha also gave up his body.

  2. 2

    When Mitra and Varuṇa saw Urvaśī, they became lusty. Although they were great saints and tried to control their lust, they could not.

  3. 3

    Their discharged semen was carefully kept in a waterpot, and Vasiṣṭha was born from it.

Key points from the purport
  • Mitra and Varuṇa chanced to meet Urvaśī, the most beautiful prostitute of the heavenly kingdom, and they became lusty.
  • Because they were great saints, they tried to control their lust, but they could not do so, and thus they discharged semen.
  • This semen was kept carefully in a waterpot, and Vasiṣṭha was born from it.

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:

After this incident, Vasiṣṭha took birth again, begotten by Mitra and Varuṇa, who were agitated by Urvaśī. The priests who were engaged in the sacrifice for King Nimi preserved Nimi’s body in fragrant chemicals.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. utsasarjagave up
  3. svamhis own
  4. dehambody
  5. nimiḥMahārāja Nimi
  6. adhyātma-kovidaḥfully conversant with spiritual knowledge
  7. mitrā-varuṇayoḥfrom the semen of Mitra and Varuṇa (discharged from seeing the beauty of Urvaśī)
  8. jajñewas born
  9. urvaśyāmthrough Urvaśī, a prostitute of the heavenly kingdom
  10. prapitāmahaḥVasiṣṭha, who was known as the great-grandfather
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lusty”

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

Do I take the difficulty of controlling lust seriously, rather than assuming I am beyond it?

Practice

Step away from one source of lustful distraction today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEven Great Saints Struggle With LustThis 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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