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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 ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 4: Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā Muni
9.4.529.4.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.4.53-54

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 9.4.53-54inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच

स्थानं मदीयं सहविश्वमेतत्

क्रीडावसाने द्विपरार्धसंज्ञे ।

भ्रूभङ्गमात्रेण हि सन्दिधक्षो:

कालात्मनो यस्य तिरोभविष्यति ॥ ५३ ॥

अहं भवो दक्षभृगुप्रधाना:

प्रजेशभूतेशसुरेशमुख्या: ।

सर्वे वयं यन्नियमं प्रपन्ना

मूर्ध्‍न्यार्पितं लोकहितं वहाम: ॥ ५४ ॥

śrī-brahmovāca

sthānaṁ madīyaṁ saha-viśvam etat

krīḍāvasāne dvi-parārdha-saṁjñe

bhrū-bhaṅga-mātreṇa hi sandidhakṣoḥ

kālātmano yasya tirobhaviṣyati

ahaṁ bhavo dakṣa-bhṛgu-pradhānāḥ

prajeśa-bhūteśa-sureśa-mukhyāḥ

sarve vayaṁ yan-niyamaṁ prapannā

mūrdhnyārpitaṁ loka-hitaṁ vahāmaḥ

Translation

Lord Brahmā said: At the end of the dvi-parārdha, when the pastimes of the Lord come to an end, Lord Viṣṇu, by a flick of His eyebrows, vanquishes the entire universe, including our places of residence. Such personalities as me and Lord Śiva, as well as Dakṣa, Bhṛgu and similar great saints of which they are the head, and also the rulers of the living entities, the rulers of human society and the rulers of the demigods — all of us surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, bowing our heads, to carry out His orders for the benefit of all living entities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

All Must Surrender to the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    When the Supreme Personality of Godhead approaches as death, the supreme controller of time, He takes everything away. Even Lord Brahmā’s residence is vanquished.

  2. 2

    All opulence, prestige and possessions are given by the Supreme Lord for some purpose. The duty of the surrendered soul is to execute His orders.

  3. 3

    Lord Brahmā and the other great personalities bow to Lord Viṣṇu and carry out His orders for everyone’s benefit. No one can disregard Him, so Lord Brahmā refused to shelter Durvāsā Muni from His disc.

Key points from the purport
  • In Bhagavad-gītā (10.34) it is said, mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham: when the Supreme Personality of Godhead approaches as death, or the supreme controller of time, He takes everything away.
  • In other words, all opulence, prestige and everything we possess is given by the Supreme Lord for some purpose.
  • Under the circumstances, Lord Brahmā refused to give shelter to Durvāsā Muni from the powerful Sudarśana cakra sent by the Lord.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 9.4.53-54 quotesBG 10.34

In Bhagavad-gītā (10.34) it is said, mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham: when the Supreme Personality of Godhead approaches as death, or the supreme controller of time, He takes everything away.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, is always the protector of His devotee, and to protect Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, He sent His disc, the Sudarśana cakra, which immediately vanquished the fiery demon and then pursued Durvāsā, who was so envious of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. Durvāsā fled to Brahmaloka, Śivaloka and all the other higher planets, but he could not protect himself from the wrath of the Sudarśana cakra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-brahmā uvācaLord Brahmā said
  2. sthānamthe place where I am
  3. madīyammy residence, Brahmaloka
  4. sahawith
  5. viśvamthe whole universe
  6. etatthis
  7. krīḍā-avasāneat the end of the period for the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. dvi-parārdha-saṁjñethe time known as the end of a dvi-parārdha
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “surrender”, “surrendered”, “shelter”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “rulers”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “duty”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I use something entrusted to me for the Lord’s service rather than my own prestige?

Practice

Choose one possession or ability and use it today in a small act of service to the Supreme Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.4's connections

Live this todayAll Must Surrender to the Supreme LordThis 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 9.4.53-54? Get an answer from the verses themselves.