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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 24: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
9.24.53-559.24.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.24.56

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The sun-godsince 9.24.34inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य क्षयो वृद्धिश्च पाप्मन: । तदा तु भगवानीश आत्मानं सृजते हरि: ॥ ५६ ॥

yadā yadā hi dharmasya

kṣayo vṛddhiś ca pāpmanaḥ

tadā tu bhagavān īśa

ātmānaṁ sṛjate hariḥ

Translation

Whenever the principles of religion deteriorate and the principles of irreligion increase, the supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead Śrī Hari, appears by His own will.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Appears by His Own Will

  1. 1

    When religious principles decline and irreligion increases, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears. He descends by His own will.

  2. 2

    In this age, the Lord appeared as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to inaugurate the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. Association with this movement is direct association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Human life should not be misused without understanding spiritual life. The purport urges everyone to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and gain relief from the problems of the Age of Kali.

Key points from the purport
  • The principles by which an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends upon earth are explained in this verse.
  • In the present age, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has appeared as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to inaugurate the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement.
  • People should take advantage of the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and thus gain relief from all the problems created in this Age of Kali.

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 9.24.56 quotesBG 4.7

The same principles are also explained in Bhagavad-gītā (4.7) by the Lord Himself: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion — at that time I descend Myself.”

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 24: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Vasudeva had many other sons by his other wives, and the eighth son to appear from the womb of Devakī was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who delivered the entire world from the burden of demons. This chapter ends by glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vāsudeva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadāwhenever
  2. yadāwhenever
  3. hiindeed
  4. dharmasyaof the principles of religion
  5. kṣayaḥdeterioration
  6. vṛddhiḥincreasing
  7. caand
  8. pāpmanaḥof sinful activities
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.24

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”, “religious”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.24

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 9.24

    In this verse: “chant”

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 you make more room for spiritual life through chanting?

Practice

Set aside two minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

Live this todayThe Lord Appears by His Own WillThis 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.

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