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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

9.4.26 9.4.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.4.27

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

गृहेषु दारेषु सुतेषु बन्धुषु

द्विपोत्तमस्यन्दनवाजिवस्तुषु ।

अक्षय्यरत्नाभरणाम्बरादि-

ष्वनन्तकोशेष्वकरोदसन्मतिम् ॥ २७ ॥

gṛheṣu dāreṣu suteṣu bandhuṣu

dvipottama-syandana-vāji-vastuṣu

akṣayya-ratnābharaṇāmbarādiṣv

ananta-kośeṣv akarod asan-matim

Translation

Mahārāja Ambarīṣa gave up all attachment to household affairs, wives, children, friends and relatives, to the best of powerful elephants, to beautiful chariots, carts, horses and inexhaustible jewels, and to ornaments, garments and an inexhaustible treasury. He gave up attachment to all of them, regarding them as temporary and material.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Possessions Without Attachment

1
Mahārāja Ambarīṣa regarded his household relationships and abundant wealth as temporary and material. He gave up attachment to them.
2
Material possessions may be accepted as far as they can be used in devotional service. Ambarīṣa possessed many things without being attached to them.
3
Advancement in devotional service brings detachment from material things for sense enjoyment. A devotee can still use them to spread the Lord’s glories.

Key points from the purport

Material possessions can be accepted as far as they can be used in devotional service.
A devotee should not have any attachment for such material involvements as house, wife, children, friends and cars.
One who is advanced in devotional service has no attachment for material things for sense enjoyment, but for preaching, to spread the glories of the Lord, he accepts such things without attachment.

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 9.4.27 quotesSB 11.2.42

Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca. One who is advanced in devotional service has no attachment for material things for sense enjoyment, but for preaching, to spread the glories of the Lord, he accepts such things without attachment.

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

Chapter 4: Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā Muni

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, as the emperor, was immensely opulent, he performed devotional service with great opulence, and therefore, despite his wealth, he had no attachment to his wife, children or kingdom. He constantly engaged his senses and mind in the service of the Lord.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.4

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

gṛheṣuin the homes
dāreṣuin wives
suteṣuin children
bandhuṣuin friends and relatives
dvipa-uttamain the best of powerful elephants
syandanain nice chariots
vājiin first-class horses
vastuṣuin all such things

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
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.4
In this verse: “attachment”, “household”, “material”
Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment
Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 9.4
In this verse: “gave up”, “detachment”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.4
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which possession could I use more for Kṛṣṇa’s service and less for my own enjoyment?

Practice

Choose one possession and use it today to share or study the glories of Kṛṣṇa.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 11.2.42

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

Live this todayUse Possessions Without AttachmentThis 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 9.4.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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