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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 4: Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā Muni
9.4.29.4.4-5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.4.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nābhāga’s fathersince 9.4.3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इमे अङ्गिरस: सत्रमासतेऽद्य सुमेधस: ।

षष्ठं षष्ठमुपेत्याह: कवे मुह्यन्ति कर्मणि ॥ ३ ॥

ime aṅgirasaḥ satram

āsate ’dya sumedhasaḥ

ṣaṣṭhaṁ ṣaṣṭham upetyāhaḥ

kave muhyanti karmaṇi

Translation

Nābhāga’s father said: All the descendants of Aṅgirā are now going to perform a great sacrifice, but although they are very intelligent, on every sixth day they will be bewildered in performing sacrifice and will make mistakes in their daily duties.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Compassion Offers Practical Guidance

  1. 1

    Nābhāga was very simple hearted, and his father responded with compassion.

  2. 2

    Although the descendants of Aṅgirā were very intelligent, they would become bewildered every sixth day and make mistakes in performing the sacrifice.

  3. 3

    His father suggested that Nābhāga could obtain a livelihood by going to them and helping with their difficulties in performing yajña.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore when he went to his father, the father, out of compassion for his son, suggested that as a means of livelihood Nābhāga could go to the descendants of Aṅgirā and take advantage of their misgivings in performing yajña.

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:

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. imeall these
  2. aṅgirasaḥdescendants of the dynasty of Aṅgirā
  3. satramsacrifice
  4. āsateare performing
  5. adyatoday
  6. sumedhasaḥwho are all very intelligent
  7. ṣaṣṭhamsixth
  8. ṣaṣṭhamsixth
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 9.4

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “father”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “compassion”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I acknowledge that even intelligent people may need help?

Practice

Offer one small piece of practical help to someone having difficulty with a task.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompassion Offers Practical 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 9.4.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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