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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 9.4.21

Who is speaking and story frame

एवं सदा कर्मकलापमात्मन:

परेऽधियज्ञे भगवत्यधोक्षजे ।

सर्वात्मभावं विदधन्महीमिमां

तन्निष्ठविप्राभिहित: शशास ह ॥ २१ ॥

evaṁ sadā karma-kalāpam ātmanaḥ

pare ’dhiyajñe bhagavaty adhokṣaje

sarvātma-bhāvaṁ vidadhan mahīm imāṁ

tan-niṣṭha-viprābhihitaḥ śaśāsa ha

Translation

In performing his prescribed duties as king, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always offered the results of his royal activities to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, who is the enjoyer of everything and is beyond the perception of material senses. He certainly took advice from brāhmaṇas who were faithful devotees of the Lord, and thus he ruled the planet earth without difficulty.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Duties to Kṛṣṇa Under Devotional Guidance

  1. 1

    Ambarīṣa offered the results of his royal duties to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Peace rests on recognizing Him as the ultimate proprietor and enjoyer of all activities.

  2. 2

    Ambarīṣa took advice from brāhmaṇas who were pure devotees of the Lord. Scholarship and skill in rituals alone do not qualify someone to give guidance as a guru.

  3. 3

    The purport presents devoted leadership and devotional training as the foundation of peaceful, honest life. Good character follows from unflinching devotion to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord has given perfect advice in Bhagavad-gītā, and Ambarīṣa Mahārāja, as the ideal executive head, ruled the entire world as a Vaiṣṇava, taking advice from Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas.
  • Therefore, as indicated here by the words tan-niṣṭha-viprābhihitaḥ, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa took advice from brāhmaṇas who were pure devotees of the Lord, for ordinary brāhmaṇas who are merely learned scholars or experts in performing ritualistic ceremonies are not competent to give advice.
  • In modern times, there are legislative assemblies whose members are authorized to make laws for the welfare of the state, but according to this description of the kingdom of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, the country or the world should be ruled by a chief executive whose advisors are all devotee brāhmaṇas.

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· 2

The purport of SB 9.4.21 quotesBG 5.29

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29): People are very much anxious to live in peace and prosperity in this material world, and here in Bhagavad-gītā the peace formula is given personally by the Supreme Personality of Godhead: everyone should understand that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the ultimate proprietor of all the planets and is therefore the enjoyer of…

The purport of SB 9.4.21 quotesSB 5.18.12

This is because he is hovering on the mental plane and is certain to be attracted by the glaring material energy.”

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

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:

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. From Nābhāga was born Ambarīṣa, the most powerful and celebrated devotee.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus (living a devotional life)
  2. sadāalways
  3. karma-kalāpamthe prescribed occupational duties as a kṣatriya king
  4. ātmanaḥof himself, personally (the head of the state)
  5. pareunto the supreme transcendence
  6. adhiyajñeunto the supreme proprietor, the supreme enjoyer
  7. bhagavatiunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. adhokṣajeunto He who is beyond material sense perception
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “king”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I carry out my responsibilities while remembering that Kṛṣṇa is their ultimate enjoyer?

Practice

Before one duty today, consciously offer its results to Kṛṣṇa.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 5.18.12

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.4's connections

Live this todayOffer Duties to Kṛṣṇa Under Devotional GuidanceThis 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 9.4.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.