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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 8: The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva
9.8.229.8.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.8.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Aṁśumānsince 9.8.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं त्वामहं ज्ञानघनं स्वभाव-

प्रध्वस्तमायागुणभेदमोहै: ।

सनन्दनाद्यैर्मुनिभिर्विभाव्यं

कथं विमूढ: परिभावयामि ॥ २३ ॥

taṁ tvāṁ ahaṁ jñāna-ghanaṁ svabhāva-

pradhvasta-māyā-guṇa-bheda-mohaiḥ

sanandanādyair munibhir vibhāvyaṁ

kathaṁ vimūḍhaḥ paribhāvayāmi

Translation

O my Lord, sages freed from the influence of the three modes of material nature — sages such as the four Kumāras [Sanat, Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanātana] — are able to think of You, who are concentrated knowledge. But how can an ignorant person like me think of You?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Rise Above the Three Material Modes

  1. 1

    Svabhāva means one’s original spiritual nature or constitutional position. In that position, the living entity is unaffected by the modes of material nature.

  2. 2

    Those freed from the three modes are situated on the Brahman platform. Authorities such as the four Kumāras and Nārāda can naturally understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    A conditioned soul under material nature’s influence cannot realize the Supreme. Kṛṣṇa therefore advises rising above the three material modes.

Key points from the purport
  • As soon as one is freed from the influence of the three modes of material nature, he is situated on the Brahman platform.
  • In Bhagavad-gītā (2.45), therefore, Kṛṣṇa advises Arjuna, traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna: one must rise above the influence of the three modes of material nature.
  • One who stays within the influence of the three material modes is unable to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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· 2

The purport of SB 9.8.23 quotesBG 14.26

Sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate. As soon as one is freed from the influence of the three modes of material nature, he is situated on the Brahman platform.

The purport of SB 9.8.23 quotesBG 2.45

In Bhagavad-gītā (2.45), therefore, Kṛṣṇa advises Arjuna, traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna: one must rise above the influence of the three modes of material nature.

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

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 8: The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Keśinī, the second wife of King Sagara, had a son named Asamañjasa, whose son Aṁśumān later searched for the horse and delivered his uncles. Upon approaching Kapiladeva, Aṁśumān saw both the horse meant for sacrifice and a pile of ashes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamthat personality
  2. tvāmunto You
  3. ahamI
  4. jñāna-ghanamYour Lordship, who are concentrated knowledge
  5. svabhāvaby spiritual nature
  6. pradhvastafree from contamination
  7. māyā-guṇacaused by the three modes of material nature
  8. bheda-mohaiḥby exhibition of the bewilderment of differentiation
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.8

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.8

    In this verse: “material”

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

How does remembering my spiritual nature change my view of material influences?

Practice

When a material influence pulls your attention today, pause and reflect: “My original nature is spiritual.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.8's connections

Live this todayRise Above the Three Material ModesThis 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 9.8.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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