Ṛṣabhadeva’s Enthronement, Exemplary Household Life, and the Birth of Bharata and the Nine Yogendras
कविर्हविरन्तरिक्ष: प्रबुद्ध: पिप्पलायन: । आविर्होत्रोऽथ द्रुमिलश्चमस: करभाजन: ॥ ११ ॥ इति भागवतधर्मदर्शना नव महाभागवतास्तेषां सुचरितं भगवन्महिमोपबृंहितं वसुदेवनारदसंवादमुपशमायनमुपरिष्टाद्वर्णयिष्याम: ॥ १२ ॥
kavir havir antarikṣaḥ prabuddhaḥ pippalāyanaḥ āvirhotro ’tha drumilaś camasaḥ karabhājanaḥ
In addition there were Kavi, Havi, Antarikṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa, and Karabhājana. These nine were mahā-bhāgavatas—seers of bhāgavata-dharma and authorized preachers of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—glorified by their steadfast bhakti to Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To bring perfect peace to the mind, later, in the narration of the dialogue between Nārada and Vasudeva, I shall describe their characteristics.
They are Kavi, Havi, Antarikṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa, and Karabhājana—described here as mahā-bhāgavatas who realize bhāgavata-dharma.
It identifies bhāgavata-dharma as the realized path of devotion seen by great devotees (mahā-bhāgavatas), whose lives increase the Lord’s glory.
By seeking teachings and association connected to pure devotees and the Lord’s glorification, which the verse says leads to upaśama—inner pacification and relief from disturbance.