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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 5: Durvāsā Muni’s Life Spared
9.5.229.5.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.5.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.5.22inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forAmbarīṣa Mahārāja· He does not retaliate

संवत्सरोऽत्यगात् तावद् यावता नागतो गत: ।

मुनिस्तद्दर्शनाकाङ्क्षोत राजाब्भक्षो बभूव ह ॥ २३ ॥

saṁvatsaro ’tyagāt tāvad

yāvatā nāgato gataḥ

munis tad-darśanākāṅkṣo

rājāb-bhakṣo babhūva ha

Translation

Durvāsā Muni had left the place of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, and as long as he had not returned — for one complete year — the King had fasted, maintaining himself simply by drinking water.

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.

Steadfastly Awaiting the Sage's Return

  1. 1

    Durvāsā Muni was away from Mahārāja Ambarīṣa's place for one complete year.

  2. 2

    Throughout that absence, the King continued to fast.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Ambarīṣa maintained himself simply by drinking water until Durvāsā Muni returned.

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:

After this incident, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa gave Durvāsā Muni sumptuous food to eat, and then the King, who had been standing in the same place for one year without eating anything, also took prasāda. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa later divided his property among his sons and went to the bank of the Mānasa-sarovara to execute devotional meditation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saṁvatsaraḥone complete year
  2. atyagātpassed
  3. tāvatas long as
  4. yāvatāso long
  5. nanot
  6. āgataḥreturned
  7. gataḥDurvāsā Muni, who had left that place
  8. muniḥthe great sage
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”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 9.5

    In this verse: “absence”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the King's long wait teach me about steadfastness?

Practice

When you have to wait today, use that moment to reflect on the King's patience.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySteadfastly Awaiting the Sage's ReturnThis 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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