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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 15: Paraśurāma, the Lord’s Warrior Incarnation
9.15.399.15.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.15.40

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

क्षमया रोचते लक्ष्मीर्ब्राह्मी सौरी यथा प्रभा ।

क्षमिणामाशु भगवांस्तुष्यते हरिरीश्वर: ॥ ४० ॥

kṣamayā rocate lakṣmīr

brāhmī saurī yathā prabhā

kṣamiṇām āśu bhagavāṁs

tuṣyate harir īśvaraḥ

Translation

The duty of a brāhmaṇa is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Forgiveness Pleases the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    A brāhmaṇa’s duty is to cultivate forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun.

  2. 2

    Different people become beautiful through their special qualities. The special beauty of a brāhmaṇa is forgiveness.

  3. 3

    Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is pleased with those who are forgiving.

Key points from the purport
  • Different personalities become beautiful by possessing different qualities.
  • In the same way, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras become beautiful by their qualities.
  • Thus everyone becomes beautiful by his special qualities.

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 15: Paraśurāma, the Lord’s Warrior Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When a king named Kārtavīryārjuna stole Jamadagni’s desire cow, Paraśurāma, who is ascertained by learned experts to be a saktyāveśa incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, killed Kārtavīryārjuna. Later, he annihilated the kṣatriya dynasty twenty-one times.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kṣamayāsimply by forgiving
  2. rocatebecomes pleasing
  3. lakṣmīḥthe goddess of fortune
  4. brāhmīin connection with brahminical qualifications
  5. saurīthe sun-god
  6. yathāas
  7. prabhāthe sunshine
  8. kṣamiṇāmunto the brāhmaṇas, who are so forgiving
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.15

    In this verse: “duty”

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 could remembering that forgiveness pleases Hari change my response to an offense?

Practice

Respond gently to one small irritation today, making the effort to forgive for Hari’s pleasure.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayForgiveness Pleases the Supreme LordThis 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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