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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
9.16.59.16.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.16.6

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

राम: सञ्चोदित: पित्रा भ्रातृन् मात्रा सहावधीत् ।

प्रभावज्ञो मुने: सम्यक् समाधेस्तपसश्च स: ॥ ६ ॥

rāmaḥ sañcoditaḥ pitrā

bhrātṝn mātrā sahāvadhīt

prabhāva-jño muneḥ samyak

samādhes tapasaś ca saḥ

Translation

Jamadagni then ordered his youngest son, Paraśurāma, to kill his brothers, who had disobeyed this order, and his mother, who had mentally committed adultery. Lord Paraśurāma, knowing the power of his father, who was practiced in meditation and austerity, killed his mother and brothers immediately.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Paraśurāma Knew His Father’s Power

  1. 1

    Jamadagni ordered Paraśurāma to kill his mother and his disobedient brothers, and Paraśurāma immediately carried out the order.

  2. 2

    The purport emphasizes prabhāva-jñaḥ: Paraśurāma knew his father’s power, gained through meditation and austerity. He thought that refusing the order would bring a curse.

  3. 3

    Paraśurāma was confident that his pleased father would grant a benediction. He intended to ask that his mother and brothers be brought back to life.

Key points from the purport
  • Paraśurāma knew the prowess of his father, and therefore he agreed to carry out his father’s order.
  • He thought that if he refused to carry out the order he would be cursed, but if he carried it out his father would be pleased, and when his father was pleased, Paraśurāma would ask the benediction of having his mother and brothers brought back to life.
  • Paraśurāma was confident in this regard, and therefore he agreed to kill his mother and brothers.

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 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Paraśurāma killed his mother and brothers, but later, by dint of the austerities of Jamadagni, they were revived. The sons of Kārtavīryārjuna, however, remembering the death of their father, wanted to take revenge against Lord Paraśurāma, and therefore when Paraśurāma was absent from the āśrama, they killed Jamadagni, who was meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rāmaḥLord Paraśurāma
  2. sañcoditaḥbeing encouraged (to kill his mother and brothers)
  3. pitrāby his father
  4. bhrātṝnall his brothers
  5. mātrā sahawith the mother
  6. avadhītkilled immediately
  7. prabhāva-jñaḥaware of the prowess
  8. muneḥof the great sage
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: “mother”, “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 does Paraśurāma’s confidence that his family could be restored explain his action?

Practice

Reread the purport and write down the specific knowledge on which Paraśurāma’s decision depended.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayParaśurāma Knew His Father’s PowerThis 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 9.16.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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