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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 · Text 9.4.68

Who is speaking and story frame

साधवो हृदयं मह्यं साधूनां हृदयं त्वहम् ।

मदन्यत् ते न जानन्ति नाहं तेभ्यो मनागपि ॥ ६८ ॥

sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyaṁ

sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham

mad-anyat te na jānanti

nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api

Translation

The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Devotee Lives in the Lord’s Heart

  1. 1

    The pure devotee is always in the Lord’s heart, and the Lord is always in the devotee’s heart. Giving pain to a pure devotee pains the Lord, as a child’s suffering pains a father.

  2. 2

    Offenses against a devotee are compared to a mad elephant devastating a garden. One should therefore be extremely careful not to commit them.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead guides His pure devotees from within and removes their ignorance. Even a learned person may not understand a pure Vaiṣṇava’s actions and should not criticize them.

Key points from the purport
  • Since Durvāsā Muni wanted to chastise Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, it is to be understood that he wanted to give pain to the heart of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for the Lord says, sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyam: “The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart.”
  • Therefore one should be extremely careful not to commit offenses at the lotus feet of a pure devotee.
  • The devotee does not do anything not sanctioned by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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· 4

The purport of SB 9.4.68 quotesBG 10.11

The devotees, being always situated in the core of the Lord’s heart, surely get all instructions directly from the Lord, as confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (10.11): “Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.3.5

In relation to this subject matter, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has quoted a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.68): “The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 1.62

This verse appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.68) in connection with a misunderstanding between Durvāsā Muni and Mahārāja Ambarīṣa.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 6.100

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.68) the Lord clearly says:

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. sādhavaḥthe pure devotees
  2. hṛdayamin the core of the heart
  3. mahyamof Me
  4. sādhūnāmof the pure devotees also
  5. hṛdayamin the core of the heart
  6. tuindeed
  7. ahamI am
  8. mat-anyatanything else but me
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “father”, “child’s”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “offenses”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I too quick to criticize devotional actions I do not understand?

Practice

Pause before making a critical comment about a devotee, and remember the Lord’s affection for His devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayThe Devotee Lives in the Lord’s HeartThis 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 9.4.68? Get an answer from the verses themselves.