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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
9.4.509.4.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.4.51

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 9.4.39-40inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दिशो नभ: क्ष्मां विवरान्समुद्रान्

लोकान् सपालांस्त्रिदिवं गत: स: ।

यतो यतो धावति तत्र तत्र

सुदर्शनं दुष्प्रसहं ददर्श ॥ ५१ ॥

diśo nabhaḥ kṣmāṁ vivarān samudrān

lokān sapālāṁs tridivaṁ gataḥ saḥ

yato yato dhāvati tatra tatra

sudarśanaṁ duṣprasahaṁ dadarśa

Translation

Just to protect himself, Durvāsā Muni fled everywhere, in all directions — in the sky, on the surface of the earth, in caves, in the ocean, on different planets of the rulers of the three worlds, and even on the heavenly planets — but wherever he went he immediately saw following him the unbearable fire of the Sudarśana cakra.

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.

No Place Offered Escape

  1. 1

    Durvāsā Muni fled in all directions, seeking to protect himself.

  2. 2

    He searched the sky, earth, caves, ocean and even the heavenly planets for safety.

  3. 3

    Wherever he went, he immediately saw the unbearable fire of the Sudarśana cakra following him.

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:

Durvāsā fled to Brahmaloka, Śivaloka and all the other higher planets, but he could not protect himself from the wrath of the Sudarśana cakra. Finally he went to the spiritual world and surrendered to Lord Nārāyaṇa, but Lord Nārāyaṇa could not excuse a person who had offended a Vaiṣṇava.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. diśaḥall directions
  2. nabhaḥin the sky
  3. kṣmāmon the surface of the earth
  4. vivarānwithin the holes
  5. samudrānwithin the seas
  6. lokānall places
  7. sa-pālānas well as their rulers
  8. tridivamthe heavenly planets
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “protect”, “safety”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “rulers”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does this verse teach me about the limits of seeking safety simply by changing places?

Practice

Recall one place mentioned in the verse and reflect that even there Durvāsā Muni could not escape.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNo Place Offered EscapeThis 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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