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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

9.5.14 9.5.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.5.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Durvāsā Munisince 9.5.14inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दुष्कर: को नु साधूनां दुस्त्यजो वा महात्मनाम् ।

यै: संगृहीतो भगवान् सात्वतामृषभो हरि: ॥ १५ ॥

duṣkaraḥ ko nu sādhūnāṁ

dustyajo vā mahātmanām

yaiḥ saṅgṛhīto bhagavān

sātvatām ṛṣabho hariḥ

Translation

For those who have achieved the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the pure devotees, what is impossible to do, and what is impossible to give up?

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nothing Is Impossible for Pure Devotees

1
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of the pure devotees.
2
The verse describes devotees who have achieved Him.
3
It asks what could be impossible for such devotees to do or to give up, emphasizing the greatness of their relationship with the Lord.

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

Chapter 5: Durvāsā Muni’s Life Spared

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Without his mercy, the universe cannot be maintained, and therefore the Sudarśana cakra is employed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Mahārāja Ambarīṣa thus prayed that the Sudarśana cakra be merciful, the Sudarśana cakra, being appeased, refrained from killing Durvāsā Muni, who thus achieved the Sudarśana cakra’s mercy.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.5

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

duṣkaraḥdifficult to do
kaḥwhat
nuindeed
sādhūnāmof the devotees
dustyajaḥimpossible to give up
vāeither
mahā-ātmanāmof the great persons
yaiḥby which persons

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 9.5
In this verse: “devotees”
Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment
Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 9.5
In this verse: “give up”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What difficult duty or attachment can I face with greater dedication to the Lord?

Practice

Take one small step in a difficult duty today with the intention of serving the Lord.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNothing Is Impossible for Pure DevoteesThis 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 9.5.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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