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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 9.5.17

Who is speaking and story frame

राजन्ननुगृहीतोऽहं त्वयातिकरुणात्मना ।

मदघं पृष्ठत: कृत्वा प्राणा यन्मेऽभिरक्षिता: ॥ १७ ॥

rājann anugṛhīto ’haṁ

tvayātikaruṇātmanā

mad-aghaṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā

prāṇā yan me ’bhirakṣitāḥ

Translation

O King, overlooking my offenses, you have saved my life. Thus I am very much obliged to you because you are so merciful.

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.

Mercy Overlooks Offenses and Saves Life

  1. 1

    Durvāsā Muni acknowledged that the King had overlooked his offenses.

  2. 2

    The King’s mercy had saved his life.

  3. 3

    Recognizing this great mercy, Durvāsā Muni expressed how deeply obliged he was to the King.

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:

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. Durvāsā Muni thus learned to give up the nasty idea of considering a Vaiṣṇava an ordinary person ( vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhi).
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājanO King
  2. anugṛhītaḥvery much favored
  3. ahamI (am)
  4. tvayāby you
  5. ati-karuṇa-ātmanābecause of your being extremely merciful
  6. mat-aghammy offenses
  7. pṛṣṭhataḥto the back
  8. kṛtvādoing so
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 9.5

    In this verse: “merciful”, “mercy”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “offenses”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.5

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Who has shown me mercy despite my mistakes?

Practice

Thank someone who has treated you kindly despite a mistake you made.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMercy Overlooks Offenses and Saves LifeThis 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 9.5.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.