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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

9.4.29 9.4.31-32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.4.30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.4.15-16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

व्रतान्ते कार्तिके मासि त्रिरात्रं समुपोषित: ।

स्‍नात: कदाचित् कालिन्द्यां हरिं मधुवनेऽर्चयत् ॥ ३० ॥

vratānte kārtike māsi

tri-rātraṁ samupoṣitaḥ

snātaḥ kadācit kālindyāṁ

hariṁ madhuvane ’rcayat

Translation

In the month of Kārtika, after observing that vow for one year, after observing a fast for three nights and after bathing in the Yamunā, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, in Madhuvana.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Complete Devotional Vows With Worship

1
Mahārāja Ambarīṣa completed his year-long vow in the month of Kārtika.
2
He observed a fast for three nights and bathed in the Yamunā.
3
He then worshiped Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Madhuvana. Worship of the Lord was central to his observance.

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:

Once Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vṛndāvana, observing the vow of Dvādaśī. On Dvādaśī, the day after Ekādaśī, when he was about to break his Ekādaśī fast, the great mystic yogī Durvāsā appeared in his house and became his guest.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

vrata-anteat the end of observing the vow
kārtikein the month of Kārtika (October-November)
māsiin that month
tri-rātramfor three nights
samupoṣitaḥafter completely observing the fast
snātaḥafter bathing
kadācitonce upon a time
kālindyāmon the bank of the Yamunā

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.4
In this verse: “worshiped”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I keep worship of the Lord central when following a devotional observance?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead with attention.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayComplete Devotional Vows With WorshipThis 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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