navābhavan mahā-bhāgā
munayo hy artha-śaḿsinaḥ
śramaṇā vāta-rasanā
ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ
kavir havir antarīkṣaḥ
prabuddhaḥ pippalāyanaḥ
āvirhotro 'tha drumilaś
camasaḥ karabhājanaḥ
nava -- nine; abhavan -- there were; maha-bhagah -- greatly fortunate souls; munayah -- sages; hi -- indeed; artha-samsinah -- engaged in explaining the Absolute Truth; sramanah -- thus exerting great endeavor; vata-rasanah -- dressed by the wind (naked); atma-vidya -- in spiritual science; visaradah -- learned; kavih havih antarikshah -- Kavi, Havir and Antariksha; prabuddhah pippalayanah -- Prabuddha and Pippalayana; avirhotrah -- Avirhotra; atha -- also; drumilah -- Drumila; camasah karabhajanah -- Camasa and Karabhajana.
The nine remaining sons of Rishabha 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, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalayana, Avirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhajana.
Nimi, the King of Videha, asked the following nine questions of the nine Yogendras, the saintly sons of Rishabha. ( l ) What is the highest good? (Chapter Two, verse 30); (2) What are the religious principles (dharma), natural proclivities (svabhava), behavior (acara), speech (vakya) and outward symptoms (lakshana) of a bhagavata, a Vaishnava devotee of the Lord? (2.44); (3) What is the external energy of Vishnu, the Supreme Lord? (3.1); (4) How can one become dissociated from this maya? (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 naishkarmya? (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 yugavataras, 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, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalayana, Avirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhajana. These nine paramahamsas 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.
