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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 9.5.24

Who is speaking and story frame

गतेऽथ दुर्वाससि सोऽम्बरीषो

द्विजोपयोगातिपवित्रमाहरत् ।

ऋषेर्विमोक्षं व्यसनं च वीक्ष्य

मेने स्ववीर्यं च परानुभावम् ॥ २४ ॥

gate ’tha durvāsasi so ’mbarīṣo

dvijopayogātipavitram āharat

ṛṣer vimokṣaṁ vyasanaṁ ca vīkṣya

mene sva-vīryaṁ ca parānubhāvam

Translation

After one year, when Durvāsā Muni had returned, King Ambarīṣa sumptuously fed him all varieties of pure food, and then he himself also ate. When the King saw that the brāhmaṇa Durvāsā had been released from the great danger of being burned, he could understand that by the grace of the Lord he himself was also powerful, but he did not take any credit, for everything had been done by the Lord.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Depend on the Lord, Not Personal Credit

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Ambarīṣa fed Durvāsā Muni pure food before eating himself. He recognized the Lord's grace and took no credit for what had happened.

  2. 2

    Despite his many duties and disturbances, the King patiently depended on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord, situated in everyone's heart, managed everything.

  3. 3

    Through bhakti-yoga, the King and Durvāsā Muni became great friends. Lord Kṛṣṇa teaches that one who worships Him with faith and loving service is the highest yogī.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus although Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was faced with many disturbances, the Lord, being merciful to him, managed things so nicely that in the end Durvāsā Muni and Mahārāja Ambarīṣa became great friends and parted cordially on the basis of bhakti-yoga.
  • After all, Durvāsā Muni was convinced of the power of bhakti-yoga, although he himself was a great mystic yogī.
  • Thus it is a fact that a devotee is the topmost yogī, as proved in the dealings of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa with Durvāsā Muni.

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· 1

The purport of SB 9.5.24 quotesBG 6.47

Therefore, as stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (6.47): “Of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.”

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 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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gateon his return
  2. athathen
  3. durvāsasithe great mystic yogī Durvāsā
  4. saḥhe, the King
  5. ambarīṣaḥMahārāja Ambarīṣa
  6. dvija-upayogamost suitable for a pure brāhmaṇa
  7. ati-pavitramvery pure food
  8. āharatgave him to eat and he also ate
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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: “grace”, “mercy”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.5

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”, “worships”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.5

    In this verse: “danger”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I depend on the Lord's mercy without claiming all the credit for success?

Practice

Recall one good outcome today and offer the Lord a brief prayer of gratitude.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDepend on the Lord, Not Personal CreditThis 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 9.5.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.