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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
9.4.369.4.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.4.37

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

प्रतिनन्द्य स तां याञ्चां कर्तुमावश्यकं गत: ।

निममज्ज बृहद् ध्यायन् कालिन्दीसलिले शुभे ॥ ३७ ॥

pratinandya sa tāṁ yācñāṁ

kartum āvaśyakaṁ gataḥ

nimamajja bṛhad dhyāyan

kālindī-salile śubhe

Translation

Durvāsā Muni gladly accepted the request of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, but to perform the regulative ritualistic ceremonies he went to the river Yamunā. There he dipped into the water of the auspicious Yamunā and meditated upon the impersonal Brahman.

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.

Durvāsā Attends to His Ritual Duties

  1. 1

    Durvāsā Muni gladly accepted Mahārāja Ambarīṣa’s invitation to eat.

  2. 2

    Before eating, he went to the Yamunā to perform the regulative ritualistic ceremonies.

  3. 3

    He dipped into the auspicious waters of the Yamunā and meditated upon the impersonal Brahman. This was the meditation described during his ritual 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

Further reading

Chapter 4: Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā Muni

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Ambarīṣa respectfully received Durvāsā Muni, and Durvāsā Muni, after accepting his invitation to eat there, went to bathe in the Yamunā River at noontime. Because he was absorbed in samādhi, he did not come back very soon.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pratinandyagladly accepting
  2. saḥDurvāsā Muni
  3. tāmthat
  4. yācñāmrequest
  5. kartumto perform
  6. āvaśyakamthe necessary ritualistic ceremonies
  7. gataḥwent
  8. nimamajjadipped his body in the water
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I make deliberate time for my spiritual observances amid other activities?

Practice

Reserve a short, undistracted period today for your regular spiritual observance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDurvāsā Attends to His Ritual DutiesThis 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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