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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
9.4.669.4.68

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.4.67

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 9.4.63inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मत्सेवया प्रतीतं ते सालोक्यादिचतुष्टयम् ।

नेच्छन्ति सेवया पूर्णा: कुतोऽन्यत् कालविप्लुतम् ॥ ६७ ॥

mat-sevayā pratītaṁ te

sālokyādi-catuṣṭayam

necchanti sevayā pūrṇāḥ

kuto ’nyat kāla-viplutam

Translation

My devotees, who are always satisfied to be engaged in My loving service, are not interested even in the four principles of liberation [sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya and sārṣṭi], although these are automatically achieved by their service. What then is to be said of such perishable happiness as elevation to the higher planetary systems?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Is Greater Than Liberation

  1. 1

    The Lord’s devotees are fully satisfied in His loving service. They do not desire even the four forms of liberation that their service automatically brings.

  2. 2

    One who develops natural devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is already liberated. There is no need to seek liberation separately.

  3. 3

    Devotees do not seek the perishable happiness of higher planetary systems. Their fulfillment is devotional service itself.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura has estimated the value of liberation as follows:
  • Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura realized that if one develops his natural devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, mukti stands before him with folded hands to offer all kinds of service.
  • The pure devotee automatically achieves liberation, even without desiring it.

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· 2

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 4.208

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.67) was spoken by the Lord in connection with the characteristics of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.183

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.67).

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:

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. mat-sevayāby being engaged fully in My transcendental loving service
  2. pratītamautomatically achieved
  3. tesuch pure devotees are fully satisfied
  4. sālokya-ādi-catuṣṭayamthe four different types of liberation ( sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya and sārṣṭi, what to speak of sāyujya)
  5. nanot
  6. icchantidesire
  7. sevayāsimply by devotional service
  8. pūrṇāḥfully complete
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I seek rewards from devotion, or satisfaction in serving the Lord?

Practice

Perform one act of devotional service without asking for a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service Is Greater Than LiberationThis 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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