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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 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class
9.15.419.16.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.16.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.16.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

पित्रोपशिक्षितो रामस्तथेति कुरुनन्दन ।

संवत्सरं तीर्थयात्रां चरित्वाश्रममाव्रजत् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

pitropaśikṣito rāmas

tatheti kuru-nandana

saṁvatsaraṁ tīrtha-yātrāṁ

caritvāśramam āvrajat

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, son of the Kuru dynasty, when Lord Paraśurāma was given this order by his father, he immediately agreed, saying, “Let it be so.” For one complete year he traveled to holy places. Then he returned to his father’s residence.

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.

Accepting Guidance and Following Through

  1. 1

    Lord Paraśurāma immediately accepted his father’s order, saying, “Let it be so.”

  2. 2

    He traveled to holy places for one complete year.

  3. 3

    After completing this journey, he returned to his father’s residence.

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 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Paraśurāma returned to the āśrama and saw his father killed, he was very sorry, and after asking his brothers to take care of the dead body, he went out with determination to kill all the kṣatriyas on the surface of the world. Taking up his axe, he went to Māhiṣmatī-pura, the capital of Kārtavīryārjuna, and killed all of Kārtavīryārjuna’s sons, whose blood became a great river.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. pitrāby his father
  3. upaśikṣitaḥthus advised
  4. rāmaḥLord Paraśurāma
  5. tathā itilet it be so
  6. kuru-nandanaO son of the Kuru dynasty, Mahārāja Parīkṣit
  7. saṁvatsaramfor one complete year
  8. tīrtha-yātrāmtraveling to all the holy places
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.16

    In this verse: “father”, “father’s”

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 faithfully do I follow through on spiritual guidance I have accepted?

Practice

Take one small step today toward completing a spiritual commitment you have already made.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAccepting Guidance and Following ThroughThis 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 9.16.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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