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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 15: Paraśurāma, the Lord’s Warrior Incarnation
9.15.379.15.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.15.38

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.15.17-19inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राम राम महाबाहो भवान् पापमकारषीत् ।

अवधीन्नरदेवं यत्सर्वदेवमयं वृथा ॥ ३८ ॥

rāma rāma mahābāho

bhavān pāpam akāraṣīt

avadhīn naradevaṁ yat

sarva-devamayaṁ vṛthā

Translation

O great hero, my dear son Paraśurāma, you have unnecessarily killed the king, who is supposed to be the embodiment of all the demigods. Thus you have committed a sin.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Heroism Does Not Justify Unnecessary Killing

  1. 1

    Jamadagni addressed Paraśurāma affectionately as his dear son and a great hero.

  2. 2

    He said that Paraśurāma had unnecessarily killed the king, who is supposed to embody all the demigods.

  3. 3

    Jamadagni called this killing sinful. His recognition of his son’s heroism did not prevent him from correcting the deed.

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 15: Paraśurāma, the Lord’s Warrior Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After Paraśurāma killed Kārtavīryārjuna, Jamadagni told him that killing a king is sinful and that as a brāhmaṇa he should have tolerated the offense. Therefore Jamadagni advised Paraśurāma to atone for his sin by traveling to various holy places.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rāma rāmamy dear son Paraśurāma
  2. mahābāhoO great hero
  3. bhavānyou
  4. pāpamsinful activities
  5. akāraṣīthave executed
  6. avadhīthave killed
  7. naradevamthe king
  8. yatwho is
  9. sarva-deva-mayamthe embodiment of all the demigods
  10. vṛthāunnecessarily
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.15

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 9.15

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

Can I accept correction even when I feel justified in my actions?

Practice

Before acting on anger today, pause and ask whether your action would cause unnecessary harm.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHeroism Does Not Justify Unnecessary KillingThis 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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