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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 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class
9.16.18-199.16.21-22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.16.20

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

पितु: कायेन सन्धाय शिर आदाय बर्हिषि ।

सर्वदेवमयं देवमात्मानमयजन्मखै: ॥ २० ॥

pituḥ kāyena sandhāya

śira ādāya barhiṣi

sarva-devamayaṁ devam

ātmānam ayajan makhaiḥ

Translation

Thereafter, Paraśurāma joined his father’s head to the dead body and placed the whole body and head upon kuśa grass. By offering sacrifices, he began to worship Lord Vāsudeva, who is the all-pervading Supersoul of all the demigods and of every living entity.

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.

Worshiping Vāsudeva, the All-Pervading Supersoul

  1. 1

    Paraśurāma joined his father’s head to the dead body and placed the whole body upon kuśa grass.

  2. 2

    He began to worship Lord Vāsudeva by offering sacrifices.

  3. 3

    Lord Vāsudeva is the all-pervading Supersoul of all the demigods and every living entity.

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:

Thereafter, Paraśurāma joined the head of his father to the dead body and performed various sacrifices to please the Supreme Lord. Thus Jamadagni got life again in his body, and later he was promoted to the higher planetary system known as Saptarṣi-maṇḍala.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pituḥof his father
  2. kāyenawith the body
  3. sandhāyajoining
  4. śiraḥthe head
  5. ādāyakeeping
  6. barhiṣiupon kuśa grass
  7. sarva-deva-mayamthe all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the demigods
  8. devamLord Vāsudeva
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.16

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “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 can remembering Lord Vāsudeva’s presence in every living entity shape my worship?

Practice

Offer a short prayer to Lord Vāsudeva, remembering Him as the Supersoul of every living entity.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorshiping Vāsudeva, the All-Pervading SupersoulThis 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 9.16.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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