1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 9 · Liberation · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
9.15.409.16.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.15.41

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

राज्ञो मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य वधो ब्रह्मवधाद् गुरु: ।

तीर्थसंसेवया चांहो जह्यङ्गाच्युतचेतन: ॥ ४१ ॥

rājño mūrdhābhiṣiktasya

vadho brahma-vadhād guruḥ

tīrtha-saṁsevayā cāṁho

jahy aṅgācyuta-cetanaḥ

Translation

My dear son, killing a king who is an emperor is more severely sinful than killing a brāhmaṇa. But now, if you become Kṛṣṇa conscious and worship the holy places, you can atone for this great sin.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa Frees Us From Sin

  1. 1

    Jamadagni said that killing an emperor is more severely sinful than killing a brāhmaṇa. He advised Paraśurāma to become Kṛṣṇa conscious and worship the holy places as atonement.

  2. 2

    Even the most sinful person is freed from all sins from the moment of full surrender to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Because an ordinary person cannot immediately surrender fully, visiting holy places to find saintly persons is advised. Through their association, one can gradually become free from sinful reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • One who fully surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is freed from all sins (ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi).
  • Nonetheless, as an example, Jamadagni advised his son Paraśurāma to worship the holy places.
  • Because an ordinary person cannot immediately surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is advised to go from one holy place to another to find saintly persons and thus gradually be released from sinful reactions.

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:

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. rājñaḥof the king
  2. mūrdha-abhiṣiktasyawho is noted as the emperor
  3. vadhaḥthe killing
  4. brahma-vadhātthan killing a brāhmaṇa
  5. guruḥmore severe
  6. tīrtha-saṁsevayāby worshiping the holy places
  7. caalso
  8. aṁhaḥthe sinful act
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”, “emperor”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “sinful”, “sins”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.15

    In this verse: “worship”

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

What would help me move toward fuller surrender to Śrī Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Śrī Kṛṣṇa today, asking for help to surrender to Him and serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender to Kṛṣṇa Frees Us From SinThis 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 9.15.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories