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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 19: King Yayāti Achieves Liberation
9.19.269.19.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.19.27-28

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.19.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सा सन्निवासं सुहृदां प्रपायामिव गच्छताम् ।

विज्ञायेश्वरतन्त्राणां मायाविरचितं प्रभो: ॥ २७ ॥

सर्वत्र सङ्गमुत्सृज्य स्वप्नौपम्येन भार्गवी ।

कृष्णे मन: समावेश्य व्यधुनोल्लिङ्गमात्मन: ॥ २८ ॥

sā sannivāsaṁ suhṛdāṁ

prapāyām iva gacchatām

vijñāyeśvara-tantrāṇāṁ

māyā-viracitaṁ prabhoḥ

sarvatra saṅgam utsṛjya

svapnaupamyena bhārgavī

kṛṣṇe manaḥ samāveśya

vyadhunol liṅgam ātmanaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, Devayānī, the daughter of Śukrācārya, understood that the materialistic association of husband, friends and relatives is like the association in a hotel full of tourists. The relationships of society, friendship and love are created by the māyā of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exactly as in a dream. By the grace of Kṛṣṇa, Devayānī gave up her imaginary position in the material world. Completely fixing her mind upon Kṛṣṇa, she achieved liberation from the gross and subtle bodies.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fix the Mind on Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Devayānī understood that materialistic relationships resemble the temporary association of tourists in a hotel. Such relationships are created by māyā, like a dream.

  2. 2

    We are spirit souls, part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, covered by gross and subtle material bodies. These coverings include the material elements, mind, intelligence and false ego.

  3. 3

    Our business is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious and render service to Kṛṣṇa as fully as possible. By His grace and her husband’s instructions, Devayānī fixed her mind on Kṛṣṇa and became liberated.

Key points from the purport
  • One should be convinced that he is a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman, Kṛṣṇa, but has somehow or other been entrapped by the material coverings of the gross and subtle bodies, consisting of earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego.
  • One should know that the association of society, friendship, love, nationalism, religion and so on are nothing but creations of māyā.
  • By the grace of Kṛṣṇa, Devayānī attained this state through the instructions of her husband.

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

Insatiable desire → Renunciation. Exhausted enjoyment generates insight.

Chapters 18–19 of Canto 9: Yayāti's craving and liberation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 19: King Yayāti Achieves Liberation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus he attained perfection. Later, when his beloved wife, Devayānī, was freed from her mistaken way of life, she also engaged herself in the devotional service of the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.19
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sāDevayānī
  2. sannivāsamliving in the association
  3. suhṛdāmof friends and relatives
  4. prapāyāmin a place where water is supplied
  5. ivalike
  6. gacchatāmof tourists on a program for going from one place to another
  7. vijñāyaunderstanding
  8. īśvara-tantrāṇāmunder the influence of the rigid laws of nature
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “māyā”, “materialistic”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “friends”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How much of my attention goes to temporary identities, and how much goes to serving Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for service to Kṛṣṇa, remembering that you are a spirit soul rather than the material coverings.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFix the Mind on KṛṣṇaThis 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 9.19.27-28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.