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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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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

9.5.24 9.5.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.5.25

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.5.22inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं विधानेकगुण: स राजा

परात्मनि ब्रह्मणि वासुदेवे ।

क्रियाकलापै: समुवाह भक्तिं

ययाविरिञ्‍च्यान् निरयांश्चकार ॥ २५ ॥

evaṁ vidhāneka-guṇaḥ sa rājā

parātmani brahmaṇi vāsudeve

kriyā-kalāpaiḥ samuvāha bhaktiṁ

yayāviriñcyān nirayāṁś cakāra

Translation

In this way, because of devotional service, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, who was endowed with varieties of transcendental qualities, was completely aware of Brahman, Paramātmā and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus he executed devotional service perfectly. Because of his devotion, he thought even the topmost planet of this material world no better than the hellish planets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Reveals the Complete Absolute Truth

1
Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and includes both Brahman and Paramātmā. A pure devotee like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa fully understands these features of the Absolute Truth.
2
The devotee always thinking of Vāsudeva is the topmost yogī. Perfect devotion to Him brings full knowledge of the Absolute Truth.
3
One fixed in devotional service gives little value to even the highest material happiness. Heavenly enjoyment, merging into Brahman, and yogic perfection do not replace the goal of devotion.

Key points from the purport

An exalted and pure devotee like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa is in full awareness of Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān; in other words, a devotee of Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, is in full knowledge of the other features of the Absolute Truth.
A devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, knows everything (vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti) because Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, includes both Paramātmā and Brahman.
Thus Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, being a devotee of the Personality of Godhead, was in full awareness of Paramātmā, Brahman, māyā, the material world, the spiritual world, and how things are going on everywhere.

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 9.5.25 quotesSB 6.17.28

api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ. Because he is fixed in devotional service, a devotee does not regard any position in the material world as important.

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

Chapter 5: Durvāsā Muni’s Life Spared

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Sudarśana cakra is the glance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by which He creates the entire material world. Sa aikṣata, sa asṛjata.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

evamin this way
vidhā-aneka-guṇaḥendowed with varieties of good qualities
saḥhe, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa
rājāthe King
para-ātmaniunto the Supersoul
brahmaṇiunto Brahman
vāsudeveunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva
kriyā-kalāpaiḥby practical activities

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.5
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.5
In this verse: “knowledge”, “absolute truth”, “understands”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.5
In this verse: “material”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value devotional service more than material comfort or an elevated position?

Practice

Set aside one optional comfort today and use that time to think of Vāsudeva.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 6.17.28

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.5's connections

Live this todayDevotion Reveals the Complete Absolute TruthThis 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 9.5.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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