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

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

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 ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 4: Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā Muni
9.4.149.4.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.4.15-16

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.4.15-16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

अम्बरीषो महाभाग: सप्तद्वीपवतीं महीम् ।

अव्ययां च श्रियं लब्ध्वा विभवं चातुलं भुवि ॥ १५ ॥

मेनेऽतिदुर्लभं पुंसां सर्वं तत् स्वप्नसंस्तुतम् ।

विद्वान् विभवनिर्वाणं तमो विशति यत् पुमान् ॥ १६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ambarīṣo mahā-bhāgaḥ

sapta-dvīpavatīṁ mahīm

avyayāṁ ca śriyaṁ labdhvā

vibhavaṁ cātulaṁ bhuvi

mene ’tidurlabhaṁ puṁsāṁ

sarvaṁ tat svapna-saṁstutam

vidvān vibhava-nirvāṇaṁ

tamo viśati yat pumān

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, the most fortunate personality, achieved the rule of the entire world, consisting of seven islands, and achieved inexhaustible, unlimited opulence and prosperity on earth. Although such a position is rarely obtained, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa did not care for it at all, for he knew very well that all such opulence is material. Like that which is imagined in a dream, such opulence will ultimately be destroyed. The King knew that any nondevotee who attains such opulence merges increasingly into material nature’s mode of darkness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Opulence Is Temporary

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Ambarīṣa attained rule over the entire world and unlimited prosperity, yet he did not care for these rare achievements.

  2. 2

    A devotee knows that material opulence is temporary, like something imagined in a dream. Therefore such opulence is insignificant to the devotee.

  3. 3

    A nondevotee regards temporary happiness as everything and forgets self-realization. Material opulence then increases bondage and becomes a disqualification for spiritual advancement.

Key points from the purport
  • For a devotee material opulence is insignificant, whereas for a nondevotee material opulence is the cause of increasing bondage, for a devotee knows that anything material is temporary, whereas a nondevotee regards the temporary so-called happiness as everything and forgets the path of self-realization.
  • Thus for the nondevotee material opulence is a disqualification for spiritual advancement.

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

Peril and anger → Faith and mercy. The contrast between pride and steadiness becomes clear.

Chapters 4–5 of Canto 9: Ambarīṣa's devotion and Durvāsā's anger. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā Muni

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was the emperor of the entire world, but he considered his opulence temporary. Indeed, knowing that such material opulence is the cause of downfall into conditional life, he was unattached to this opulence.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. ambarīṣaḥKing Ambarīṣa
  3. mahā-bhāgaḥthe greatly fortunate king
  4. sapta-dvīpavatīmconsisting of seven islands
  5. mahīmthe whole world
  6. avyayām caand inexhaustible
  7. śriyambeauty
  8. labdhvāafter achieving
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I treating any temporary comfort or possession as though it were everything?

Practice

Choose one possession you value and remind yourself that it is temporary, not the goal of self-realization.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Opulence Is TemporaryThis 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 9.4.15-16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.