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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
  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 · Texts 9.4.4-5

Who is speaking and story frame

तांस्त्वं शंसय सूक्ते द्वे वैश्वदेवे महात्मन: ।

ते स्वर्यन्तो धनं सत्रपरिशेषितमात्मन: ॥ ४ ॥

दास्यन्ति तेऽथ तान्गच्छ तथा स कृतवान् यथा ।

तस्मै दत्त्वा ययु: स्वर्गं ते सत्रपरिशेषणम् ॥ ५ ॥

tāṁs tvaṁ śaṁsaya sūkte dve

vaiśvadeve mahātmanaḥ

te svar yanto dhanaṁ satra-

pariśeṣitam ātmanaḥ

dāsyanti te ’tha tān arccha

tathā sa kṛtavān yathā

tasmai dattvā yayuḥ svargaṁ

te satra-pariśeṣaṇam

Translation

Nābhāga’s father continued: “Go to those great souls and describe two Vedic hymns pertaining to Vaiśvadeva. When the great sages have completed the sacrifice and are going to the heavenly planets, they will give you the remnants of the money they have received from the sacrifice. Therefore, go there immediately.” Thus Nābhāga acted exactly according to the advice of his father, and the great sages of the Aṅgirā dynasty gave him all their wealth and then went to the heavenly planets.

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.

Follow Helpful Guidance Carefully

  1. 1

    Nābhāga’s father told him to describe two Vedic hymns pertaining to Vaiśvadeva to the great sages.

  2. 2

    He explained that the sages would give Nābhāga the remaining wealth from the sacrifice before going to the heavenly planets.

  3. 3

    Nābhāga acted exactly according to his father’s advice. The sages gave him all their wealth and then departed for the heavenly planets.

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. tānto all of them
  2. tvamyourself
  3. śaṁsayadescribe
  4. sūkteVedic hymns
  5. dvetwo
  6. vaiśvadevein connection with Vaiśvadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. mahātmanaḥto all of those great souls
  8. tethey
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “father”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I carry out helpful guidance carefully, or only partly?

Practice

Choose one helpful instruction you have received and carry it out carefully today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow Helpful Guidance CarefullyThis 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 9.4.4-5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.