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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 4: Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā Muni
9.4.15-169.4.18-20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.4.17

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

वासुदेवे भगवति तद्भक्तेषु च साधुषु ।

प्राप्तो भावं परं विश्वं येनेदं लोष्ट्रवत् स्मृतम् ॥ १७ ॥

vāsudeve bhagavati

tad-bhakteṣu ca sādhuṣu

prāpto bhāvaṁ paraṁ viśvaṁ

yenedaṁ loṣṭravat smṛtam

Translation

Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, and of the saintly persons who are the Lord’s devotees. Because of this devotion, he thought of the entire universe as being as insignificant as a piece of stone.

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.

Devotion Makes Material Grandeur Insignificant

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was deeply devoted to Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    He was also devoted to the saintly persons who were the Lord’s devotees.

  3. 3

    Because of this devotion, he regarded the entire material universe as insignificant as a piece of stone.

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:

Nābhāga executed the order of his father, and thus Aṅgirā and other great saintly persons gave him all the money collected in that sacrifice. To test Nābhāga, Lord Śiva challenged his claim to the wealth, but when Lord Śiva was satisfied by Nābhāga’s behavior, Lord Śiva offered him all the riches.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vāsudeveunto the all-pervading Supreme Personality
  2. bhagavatiunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. tat-bhakteṣuunto His devotees
  4. caalso
  5. sādhuṣuunto the saintly persons
  6. prāptaḥone who has achieved
  7. bhāvamreverence and devotion
  8. paramtranscendental
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does my regard for the Lord and His devotees compare with my attraction to material grandeur?

Practice

Take a quiet minute to reflect on the value of devotion to the Lord and His saintly devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Makes Material Grandeur InsignificantThis 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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