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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 5: Durvāsā Muni’s Life Spared
9.4.719.5.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.5.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.5.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forDurvāsā Muni· Return and reconciliation

श्रीशुक उवाच

एवं भगवतादिष्टो दुर्वासश्चक्रतापित: ।

अम्बरीषमुपावृत्य तत्पादौ दु:खितोऽग्रहीत् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ bhagavatādiṣṭo

durvāsāś cakra-tāpitaḥ

ambarīṣam upāvṛtya

tat-pādau duḥkhito ’grahīt

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When thus advised by Lord Viṣṇu, Durvāsā Muni, who was very much harassed by the Sudarśana cakra, immediately approached Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. Being very much aggrieved, the muni fell down and clasped the King’s lotus feet.

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.

Follow the Lord’s Advice with Humility

  1. 1

    Harassed by the Sudarśana cakra, Durvāsā Muni followed Lord Viṣṇu’s advice immediately.

  2. 2

    He approached Mahārāja Ambarīṣa in great distress.

  3. 3

    Durvāsā fell down and clasped the King’s lotus feet, taking a humble position.

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 5: Durvāsā Muni’s Life Spared

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

By the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, Durvāsā Muni immediately went to Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and fell at his lotus feet. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, being naturally very humble and meek, felt shy and ashamed because Durvāsā Muni had fallen at his feet, and thus he began to offer prayers to the Sudarśana cakra just to save Durvāsā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. evamin this way
  3. bhagavatā ādiṣṭaḥbeing ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. durvāsāḥthe great mystic yogī named Durvāsā
  5. cakra-tāpitaḥbeing very much harassed by the Sudarśana cakra
  6. ambarīṣamunto Mahārāja Ambarīṣa
  7. upāvṛtyaapproaching
  8. tat-pādauat his lotus feet
  9. duḥkhitaḥbeing very much aggrieved
  10. agrahīthe caught
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.5

    In this verse: “king’s”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 9.5

    In this verse: “humble”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 9.5

    In this verse: “distress”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How willing am I to take a humble position when I need help?

Practice

Ask for needed help today with humility rather than insisting on managing alone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow the Lord’s Advice with HumilityThis 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 9.5.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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