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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 6: The Downfall of Saubhari Muni
9.6.529.6.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.6.53

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं वसन् गृहे कालं विरक्तो न्यासमास्थित: ।

वनं जगामानुययुस्तत्पत्‍न्य: पतिदेवता: ॥ ५३ ॥

evaṁ vasan gṛhe kālaṁ

virakto nyāsam āsthitaḥ

vanaṁ jagāmānuyayus

tat-patnyaḥ pati-devatāḥ

Translation

In this way he passed his life in household affairs for some time, but then he became detached from material enjoyment. To renounce material association, he accepted the vānaprastha order and went to the forest. His devoted wives followed him, for they had no shelter other than their husband.

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.

Detachment Can Lead to a New Direction

  1. 1

    After spending some time in household affairs, Saubhari Muni became detached from material enjoyment.

  2. 2

    To renounce material association, he accepted the vānaprastha order and went to the forest. His detachment led to a concrete change in his way of life.

  3. 3

    His devoted wives followed him. They had no shelter other than their husband.

How it feels

Attachment and struggle → Renunciation and responsibility. Multiple royal lives reveal the cost of choices.

Chapters 6–9 of Canto 9: Saubhari, Sagara and Bhagīratha's lineage. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 6: The Downfall of Saubhari Muni

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus he accepted the order of vānaprastha, performed very severe austerities, and thus attained perfection. In this regard, Śukadeva Gosvāmī described how Saubhari Muni’s wives also became perfect.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamin this way
  2. vasanliving
  3. gṛheat home
  4. kālampassing away time
  5. viraktaḥbecame detached
  6. nyāsamin the renounced order of life
  7. āsthitaḥbecame situated
  8. vanamin the forest
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.6

    In this verse: “household”, “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 9.6

    In this verse: “detached”, “renounce”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 9.6

    In this verse: “shelter”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What small change would make my growing detachment from material enjoyment practical?

Practice

Set aside one nonessential material pleasure today as a small exercise in detachment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDetachment Can Lead to a New DirectionThis 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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