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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
9.4.619.4.63

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.4.62

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Śivasince 9.4.56inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अजानता ते परमानुभावं

कृतं मयाघं भवत: प्रियाणाम् ।

विधेहि तस्यापचितिं विधात-

र्मुच्येत यन्नाम्न्युदिते नारकोऽपि ॥ ६२ ॥

ajānatā te paramānubhāvaṁ

kṛtaṁ mayāghaṁ bhavataḥ priyāṇām

vidhehi tasyāpacitiṁ vidhātar

mucyeta yan-nāmny udite nārako ’pi

Translation

O my Lord, O supreme controller, without knowledge of Your unlimited prowess I have offended Your most dear devotee. Very kindly save me from the reaction of this offense. You can do everything, for even if a person is fit for going to hell, You can deliver him simply by awakening within his heart the holy name of Your Lordship.

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.

Seek Mercy After Offending a Devotee

  1. 1

    The speaker admits that, without knowing the Lord’s unlimited prowess, he has offended a devotee very dear to Him.

  2. 2

    He asks the supreme controller to save him from the reaction to his offense. His prayer acknowledges that the Lord can do everything.

  3. 3

    The Lord can deliver even someone fit for hell simply by awakening His holy name within that person’s heart.

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:

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. To be excused from such an offense, one must submit to the Vaiṣṇava whom he has offended.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ajānatāwithout knowledge
  2. teof Your Lordship
  3. parama-anubhāvamthe inconceivable prowess
  4. kṛtamhas been committed
  5. mayāby me
  6. aghama great offense
  7. bhavataḥof Your Lordship
  8. priyāṇāmat the feet of the devotees
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “offense”, “offended”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 9.4

    In this verse: “holy name”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I honestly acknowledge my offenses rather than make excuses for them?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer acknowledging a mistake and asking the Lord for mercy, then attentively repeat His holy name.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Mercy After Offending a DevoteeThis 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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