Devanagari
नवाभवन् महाभागा मुनयो ह्यर्थशंसिन: ।
श्रमणा वातरसना आत्मविद्याविशारदा: ॥ २० ॥
कविर्हविरन्तरीक्ष: प्रबुद्ध: पिप्पलायन: ।
आविर्होत्रोऽथ द्रुमिलश्चमस: करभाजन: ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
navābhavan mahā-bhāgā
munayo hy artha-śaṁsinaḥ
śramaṇā vāta-rasanā
ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ
kavir havir antarīkṣaḥ
prabuddhaḥ pippalāyanaḥ
āvirhotro ’tha drumilaś
camasaḥ karabhājanaḥ
Synonyms
nava
—
nine
;
abhavan
—
there were
;
mahā
—
bhāgāḥ — greatly fortunate souls
;
munayaḥ
—
sages
;
hi
—
indeed
;
artha
—
śaṁsinaḥ — engaged in explaining the Absolute Truth
;
śramaṇāḥ
—
thus exerting great endeavor
;
vāta
—
rasanāḥ — dressed by the wind (naked)
;
ātma
—
vidyā — in spiritual science
;
viśāradāḥ
—
learned
;
kaviḥ haviḥ antarīkṣaḥ
—
Kavi, Havir and Antarīkṣa
;
prabuddhaḥ pippalāyanaḥ
—
Prabuddha and Pippalāyana
;
āvirhotraḥ
—
Āvirhotra
;
atha
—
also
;
drumilaḥ
—
Drumila
;
camasaḥ karabhājanaḥ
—
Camasa and Karabhājana .
Translation
The nine remaining sons of Ṛṣabha were greatly fortunate sages who worked vigorously to spread knowledge of the Absolute Truth. They wandered about naked and were very well versed in spiritual science. Their names were Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The nine remaining sons of Ṛṣabha, greatly fortunate sages, discerning the highest truth and endeavoring for Paramātmā, were learned concerning Paramātmā. They wandered about naked. Their names were Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana.
They were discerners of the highest truth (artha-śaṁsinaḥ), making great endeavor for realizing ātmā, and were naked (vāta-rasanā).
Purport
Nimi, the King of Videha, asked the following nine questions of the nine Yogendras, the saintly sons of Ṛṣabha. (1) What is the highest good? (Chapter Two, verse 30); (2) What are the religious principles (
dharma
), natural proclivities (
svabhāva
), behavior (
ācāra
), speech (
vākya
) and outward symptoms (
lakṣaṇa
) of a
bhāgavata,
a Vaiṣṇava devotee of the Lord? (2.44); (3) What is the external energy of Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord? (3.1); (4) How can one become dissociated from this
māyā
? (3.17); (5)What is the true identity of Brahman? (3.34); (6) What are the three types of
karma,
namely
karma
based on the enjoyment of the fruits of work,
karma
offered to the Supreme Lord, and
naiṣkarmya
? (3.41); (7) What are the various pastimes of the various incarnations of God? (4.1); (8) What is the aim or destination of one who is against the Supreme Lord and devoid of
bhakti
(in other words, a nondevotee)? (5.1); and (9)What are the respective colors, forms and names of the four
yugāvatāras,
the four incarnations of the Supreme Lord who appear in the four ages, and what is the process of worshiping each of Them? (5.19).
The transcendental answers to these inquiries were given by the great devotees Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana. These nine
paramahaṁsas
answered the nine questions, each in turn, in the following verses: (1) 2.33-43; (2) 2.45-55; (3) 3.3-16; (4) 3.18-33; (5) 3.35-40; (6) 3.43-55; (7) 4.2-23; (8) 5.2-18; and (9) 5.20-42.