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

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.2.11-13

Who is speaking and story frame

वासुदेवे भगवति सर्वात्मनि परेऽमले ।

एकान्तित्वं गतो भक्त्या सर्वभूतसुहृत् सम: ॥ ११ ॥

विमुक्तसङ्ग: शान्तात्मा संयताक्षोऽपरिग्रह: ।

यद‍ृच्छयोपपन्नेन कल्पयन् वृत्तिमात्मन: ॥ १२ ॥

आत्मन्यात्मानमाधाय ज्ञानतृप्त: समाहित: ।

विचचार महीमेतां जडान्धबधिराकृति: ॥ १३ ॥

vāsudeve bhagavati

sarvātmani pare ’male

ekāntitvaṁ gato bhaktyā

sarva-bhūta-suhṛt samaḥ

vimukta-saṅgaḥ śāntātmā

saṁyatākṣo ’parigrahaḥ

yad-ṛcchayopapannena

kalpayan vṛttim ātmanaḥ

ātmany ātmānam ādhāya

jñāna-tṛptaḥ samāhitaḥ

vicacāra mahīm etāṁ

jaḍāndha-badhirākṛtiḥ

Translation

Thereafter, Pṛṣadhra gained relief from all responsibilities, became peaceful in mind, and established control over all his senses. Being unaffected by material conditions, being pleased with whatever was available by the grace of the Lord to maintain body and soul together, and being equal toward everyone, he gave full attention to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, who is the transcendental Supersoul, free from material contamination. Thus Pṛṣadhra, fully satisfied in pure knowledge, always keeping his mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, achieved pure devotional service to the Lord and began traveling all over the world, without affection for material activities, as if he were deaf, dumb and blind.

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.

Full Attention Leads to Pure Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Freed from responsibilities, Pṛṣadhra became peaceful and controlled his senses. He remained unaffected by material conditions, content with the Lord’s provision, and equal toward everyone.

  2. 2

    He gave full attention to Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and transcendental Supersoul, who is free from material contamination.

  3. 3

    Fully satisfied in pure knowledge and always keeping his mind on the Lord, he achieved pure devotional service. He traveled throughout the world without affection for material activities, as if deaf, dumb and blind.

How it feels

Change → Acceptance. The instability of worldly identities is a recurring premise.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 9: Dynastic origins and domestic transformations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: The Dynasties of the Sons of Manu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then he voluntarily entered a blazing forest fire, thus relinquishing his material body and going back home, back to Godhead. Kavi, the youngest son of Manu, was a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead from his very childhood.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vāsudeveunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. bhagavatiunto the Lord
  3. sarva-ātmaniunto the Supersoul
  4. pareunto the Transcendence
  5. amaleunto the Supreme person, who is without material contamination
  6. ekāntitvamrendering devotional service without diversion
  7. gataḥbeing situated in that position
  8. bhaktyābecause of pure devotion
3

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 9.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.2

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.2

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 could contentment with the Lord’s provision help you give more attention to devotional service?

Practice

Spend a few quiet minutes remembering Vāsudeva, setting aside thoughts of material gain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFull Attention Leads to Pure Devotional ServiceThis 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 9.2.11-13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.