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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 14: King Purūravā Enchanted by Urvaśī
9.14.479.14.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.14.48

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Urvaśīsince 9.14.42inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एक एव पुरा वेद: प्रणव: सर्ववाङ्‌मय: ।

देवो नारायणो नान्य एकोऽग्निर्वर्ण एव च ॥ ४८ ॥

eka eva purā vedaḥ

praṇavaḥ sarva-vāṅmayaḥ

devo nārāyaṇo nānya

eko ’gnir varṇa eva ca

Translation

In the Satya-yuga, the first millennium, all the Vedic mantras were included in one mantra — praṇava, the root of all Vedic mantras. In other words, the Atharva Veda alone was the source of all Vedic knowledge. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa was the only worshipable Deity; there was no recommendation for worship of the demigods. Fire was one only, and the only order of life in human society was known as haṁsa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship the Supreme Lord Through His Names

  1. 1

    In Satya-yuga there was one Veda, and all Vedic mantras were included in praṇava. Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the only worshipable Deity.

  2. 2

    Both oṁkāra and the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra address the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For Kali-yuga, the scriptures recommend chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Worshiping Nārāyaṇa is like watering a tree’s root, nourishing all its parts. Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa frees one from material bondage and makes one eligible to return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • In Satya-yuga the only mantra was oṁkāra (oṁ tat sat).
  • Oṁkāra is a mantra, or mahā-mantra, and Hare Kṛṣṇa is also a mahā-mantra.
  • And the purpose of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is the same.

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 14: King Purūravā Enchanted by Urvaśī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Veda was the oṁkāra. The various demigods were not worshiped, for only the Supreme Personality of Godhead was the worshipable Deity.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ekaḥonly one
  2. evaindeed
  3. purāformerly
  4. vedaḥbook of transcendental knowledge
  5. praṇavaḥoṁkāra
  6. sarva-vāk-mayaḥconsisting of all Vedic mantras
  7. devaḥthe Lord, God
  8. nārāyaṇaḥonly Nārāyaṇa (was worshipable in the Satya-yuga)
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “material”

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 does the image of watering a tree’s root help me understand worship of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Chant once attentively: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship the Supreme Lord Through His NamesThis 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 9.14.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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