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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 9.21.7

Who is speaking and story frame

अथान्यो भोक्ष्यमाणस्य विभक्तस्य महीपते: ।

विभक्तं व्यभजत् तस्मै वृषलाय हरिं स्मरन् ॥ ७ ॥

athānyo bhokṣyamāṇasya

vibhaktasya mahīpateḥ

vibhaktaṁ vyabhajat tasmai

vṛṣalāya hariṁ smaran

Translation

Thereafter, having divided the remaining food with his relatives, Rantideva was just about to eat his own share when a śūdra guest arrived. Seeing the śūdra in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, King Rantideva gave him also a share of the food.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Equal Vision Leads to Equal Treatment

  1. 1

    Rantideva had divided the remaining food among his relatives and was about to eat when a śūdra arrived. He gave this guest a share as well.

  2. 2

    He saw everyone as part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, he did not discriminate between the brāhmaṇa and the śūdra, or between the poor and the rich.

  3. 3

    Such equal vision is called sama-darśinaḥ. One who realizes the Lord’s presence in everyone’s heart treats living beings equally.

Key points from the purport
  • Because King Rantideva saw everyone as part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he never distinguished between the brāhmaṇa and the śūdra, the poor and the rich.
  • One who has actually realized that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in everyone’s heart and that every living being is part of the Lord does not make any distinction between the brāhmaṇa and the śūdra, the poor (daridra) and the rich (dhanī).
  • Such a person sees all living beings equally and treats them equally, without discrimination.

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

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. athathereafter
  2. anyaḥanother guest
  3. bhokṣyamāṇasyawho was just about to eat
  4. vibhaktasyaafter setting aside the share for the family
  5. mahīpateḥof the King
  6. vibhaktamthe food allotted for the family
  7. vyabhajathe divided and distributed
  8. tasmaiunto him
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.21

    In this verse: “king”

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

Do wealth or social standing affect the respect I show others?

Practice

Show the same courtesy today to someone whose social or financial circumstances differ from yours.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEqual Vision Leads to Equal TreatmentThis 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 9.21.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.