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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
  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 ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 7: The Descendants of King Māndhātā
9.7.249.8.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.7.25-26

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.7.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मन: पृथिव्यां तामद्भ‍िस्तेजसापोऽनिलेन तत् ।

खे वायुं धारयंस्तच्च भूतादौ तं महात्मनि ।

तस्मिञ्ज्ञानकलां ध्यात्वा तयाज्ञानं विनिर्दहन् ॥ २५ ॥

हित्वा तां स्वेन भावेन निर्वाणसुखसंविदा ।

अनिर्देश्याप्रतर्क्येण तस्थौ विध्वस्तबन्धन: ॥ २६ ॥

manaḥ pṛthivyāṁ tām adbhis

tejasāpo ’nilena tat

khe vāyuṁ dhārayaṁs tac ca

bhūtādau taṁ mahātmani

tasmiñ jñāna-kalāṁ dhyātvā

tayājñānaṁ vinirdahan

hitvā tāṁ svena bhāvena

nirvāṇa-sukha-saṁvidā

anirdeśyāpratarkyeṇa

tasthau vidhvasta-bandhanaḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Hariścandra first purified his mind, which was full of material enjoyment, by amalgamating it with the earth. Then he amalgamated the earth with water, the water with fire, the fire with the air, and the air with the sky. Thereafter, he amalgamated the sky with the total material energy, and the total material energy with spiritual knowledge. This spiritual knowledge is realization of one’s self as part of the Supreme Lord. When the self-realized spiritual soul is engaged in service to the Lord, he is eternally imperceptible and inconceivable. Thus established in spiritual knowledge, he is completely freed from material bondage.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Knowledge Leads to Service and Freedom

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Hariścandra purified his mind, which was full of material enjoyment. He progressively amalgamated it with the earth, then the earth with water, water with fire, fire with air, and air with sky.

  2. 2

    He then amalgamated the sky with the total material energy, and that energy with spiritual knowledge. Spiritual knowledge means realizing oneself as part of the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    When the self-realized spiritual soul engages in service to the Lord, he is eternally imperceptible and inconceivable. Established in spiritual knowledge, he is completely freed from material bondage.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Descendants of King Māndhātā.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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 7: The Descendants of King Māndhātā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Indra, being very satisfied by the sacrifice, gave Hariścandra a golden chariot, and Viśvāmitra gave him transcendental knowledge. Thus Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes how Hariścandra achieved perfection.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. manaḥthe mind (full of material desires for eating, sleeping, mating and defending)
  2. pṛthivyāmin the earth
  3. tāmthat
  4. adbhiḥwith water
  5. tejasāand with fire
  6. apaḥthe water
  7. anilenain the fire
  8. tatthat
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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 9.7

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 9.7

    In this verse: “purified”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.7

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering that I am part of the Supreme Lord turn my attention from material enjoyment toward His service?

Practice

Take one quiet minute today to reflect, “I am part of the Supreme Lord, and my purpose is to serve Him.”

Live this todaySpiritual Knowledge Leads to Service and FreedomThis 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 9.7.25-26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.