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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.21.6

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्मै संव्यभजत् सोऽन्नमाद‍ृत्य श्रद्धयान्वित: ।

हरिं सर्वत्र संपश्यन् स भुक्त्वा प्रययौ द्विज: ॥ ६ ॥

tasmai saṁvyabhajat so ’nnam

ādṛtya śraddhayānvitaḥ

hariṁ sarvatra saṁpaśyan

sa bhuktvā prayayau dvijaḥ

Translation

Because Rantideva perceived the presence of the Supreme Godhead everywhere, and in every living entity, he received the guest with faith and respect and gave him a share of the food. The brāhmaṇa guest ate his share and then went away.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See the Lord’s Presence in Everyone

  1. 1

    Rantideva perceived the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living being. With faith and respect, he gave the brāhmaṇa guest a share of the food.

  2. 2

    Seeing the Lord within everyone does not mean that every living being is God. Rantideva saw everyone as part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    True equal vision perceives the Lord’s presence in both the brāhmaṇa and the caṇḍāla. It does not give someone special spiritual standing simply because that person is poor.

Key points from the purport
  • Rantideva perceived the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living being, but he never thought that because the Supreme Lord is present in every living being, every living being must be God.
  • Therefore, although it has now become fashionable to give preference to the so-called daridra-nārāyaṇa, or “poor Nārāyaṇa,” Rantideva had no reason to give preference to any one person.
  • Rather, he saw everyone as part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ).

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 9.21.6 quotesBG 5.18

This is the true vision of equality, as confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (5.18): “The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Historical movement → Anticipation. The narrative narrows toward its divine center.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 9: Lineages leading to the appearance of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 21: The Dynasty of Bharata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As an exalted devotee, Rantideva saw every living entity in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore he completely engaged his mind, his words and his very self in the service of the Supreme Lord and His devotees. Rantideva was so exalted that he would sometimes give away his own food in charity, and he and his family would fast.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.21
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmaiunto him (the brāhmaṇa)
  2. saṁvyabhajatafter dividing, gave his share
  3. saḥhe (Rantideva)
  4. annamthe food
  5. ādṛtyawith great respect
  6. śraddhayā anvitaḥand with faith
  7. harimthe Supreme Lord
  8. sarvatraeverywhere, or in the heart of every living being
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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

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

Can I respect the Lord’s presence in someone without confusing that person with the Lord?

Practice

Offer one person your full, respectful attention today, remembering the Supreme Lord’s presence in their heart.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySee the Lord’s Presence in EveryoneThis 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 9.21.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.