Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 27

Nimi’s Disembodied Liberation and the Rise of the Mithilā (Videha) Dynasty

Devanagari script

एते वै मैथिला राजन्नात्मविद्याविशारदा: । योगेश्वरप्रसादेन द्वन्द्वैर्मुक्ता गृहेष्वपि ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

ete vai maithilā rājann ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ yogeśvara-prasādena dvandvair muktā gṛheṣv api

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King Parīkṣit, all the kings of the dynasty of Mithila were completely in knowledge of their spiritual identity. Therefore, even though staying at home, they were liberated from the duality of material existence.

Synonyms

• एते: these (people)
• एते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• मैथिलाः: the Mithilans
• मैथिलाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; जनपदवाचक (people of Mithilā)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• आत्मविद्याविशारदाः: skilled in spiritual self-knowledge
• आत्मविद्याविशारदाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मविद्या + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः आत्म-विद्या-विशारद (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः: 'skilled in self-knowledge')

• योगेश्वरप्रसादेन: by the grace of the Lord of yoga
• योगेश्वरप्रसादेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगेश्वर + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः योग-ईश्वर-प्रसाद (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• द्वन्द्वैः: from pairs of opposites
• द्वन्द्वैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मुक्ताः: freed; liberated
• मुक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'freed'

• गृहेषु: in homes
• गृहेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

Purport

This material world is called dvaita, or duality. The Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Antya 4.176) says:

Characters & Entities

• Maithilāḥ (Kings of Mithilā)
• Yogeśvara (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about liberation while living as a householder?

This verse states that the Maithilā kings attained freedom from material dualities even while remaining in household life, through deep self-knowledge and the grace of the Supreme Lord (Yogeśvara).

Who are the Maithilā kings mentioned in Bhagavatam 9.13.27?

They are the rulers of Mithilā (Videha dynasty), praised here as experts in ātma-vidyā (spiritual self-knowledge) and as liberated from dualities by divine grace.

How can one apply freedom from dualities (dvandva) in modern life?

Practice steady spiritual understanding and devotion while performing one’s duties, aiming to remain equipoised amid success/failure and pleasure/pain, seeking the Lord’s grace rather than external validation.