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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Canto 9 · 24 chapters · 960 verses · 14 stories
Liberation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī tells Parīkṣit about the dynasties of the sun and moon, recounting the lives of kings, sages and devotees, and the activities of Lord Rāmacandra and Lord Paraśurāma. These histories show the limits of material enjoyment and the greatness of devotional service. The canto concludes with Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose compassionate activities deliver living beings from material life.
What this canto speaks about · the ten subjects
Visarga 276Īśānukathā 270Ūti 175Manvantara 73Mukti 67Poṣaṇa 53Āśraya 23Nirodha 19Sthāna 3Sarga 1
- 1Chapter 1King Sudyumna Becomes a WomanIlā becomes Sudyumna, whose history connects Vaivasvata Manu’s dynasty with the dynasty of the moon.Mostly Īśānukathā ·42 verses · Ilā becomes Sudyumna
- 2Chapter 2The Dynasties of the Sons of ManuManu’s sons establish dynasties, and Pṛṣadhra reaches the spiritual world through devotional worship.Mostly Visarga ·36 verses · Pṛṣadhra reaches the spiritual world
- 3Chapter 3The Marriage of Sukanyā and Cyavana MuniSukanyā marries Cyavana Muni, who regains his youth through the Aśvinī-kumāras.Mostly Īśānukathā ·36 verses · Sukanyā and Cyavana Muni
- 4Chapter 4Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā MuniAmbarīṣa serves the Lord without attachment to wealth; Durvāsā offends him and flees the Sudarśana cakra.Mostly Īśānukathā ·71 verses · Ambarīṣa protects Durvāsā
- 5Chapter 5Durvāsā Muni’s Life SparedAmbarīṣa prays for Durvāsā’s safety, and the Sudarśana cakra spares the sage.Mostly Īśānukathā ·28 verses · Ambarīṣa protects Durvāsā
- 6Chapter 6The Downfall of Saubhari MuniThe royal line reaches Māndhātā; Saubhari marries his daughters but remains unsatisfied by sense enjoyment.Mostly Visarga ·55 verses · Saubhari’s unsatisfied enjoyment
- 7Chapter 7The Descendants of King MāndhātāMāndhātā’s descendants include Triśaṅku and Hariścandra, whose dealings with sages and demigods are recounted.Mostly Ūti ·26 verses
- 8Chapter 8The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord KapiladevaSagara’s history includes his sacrifices, the destruction of his sons, and prayers to Lord Kapiladeva.Mostly Īśānukathā ·30 verses · Sagara’s sons and Lord Kapiladeva
- 9Chapter 9The Dynasty of AṁśumānBhagīratha brings the Ganges to earth; the dynasty continues through Saudāsa and Khaṭvāṅga.Mostly Ūti ·49 verses · Bhagīratha brings the Ganges
- 10Chapter 10The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, RāmacandraLord Rāmacandra marries Sītā, enters the forest, kills Rāvaṇa and returns to Ayodhyā.Mostly Īśānukathā ·55 verses · Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes
- 11Chapter 11Lord Rāmacandra Rules the WorldLord Rāmacandra performs sacrifices and rules from Ayodhyā; Sītā gives birth to Lava and Kuśa.Mostly Īśānukathā ·36 verses · Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes
- 12Chapter 12The Dynasty of Kuśa, the Son of Lord RāmacandraŚukadeva traces Kuśa’s descendants, including past and future kings and Maru, who will revive the solar dynasty.Mostly Visarga ·16 verses
- 13Chapter 13The Dynasty of Mahārāja NimiNimi and Vasiṣṭha exchange curses; Nimi’s dynasty includes Janaka, who finds Sītā while plowing.Mostly Visarga ·27 verses · Nimi’s choice
- 14Chapter 14King Purūravā Enchanted by UrvaśīSoma’s descendants include Purūravā, whose attachment to Urvaśī brings joy and grief.Mostly Ūti ·49 verses · Purūravā’s attachment to Urvaśī
- 15Chapter 15Paraśurāma, the Lord’s Warrior IncarnationParaśurāma kills Kārtavīryārjuna after the king steals Jamadagni’s desire cow; Jamadagni advises atonement.Mostly Īśānukathā ·41 verses · Paraśurāma and the sinful rulers
- 16Chapter 16Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling ClassAfter Jamadagni’s murder, Paraśurāma destroys the sinful ruling class twenty-one times.Mostly Īśānukathā ·37 verses · Paraśurāma and the sinful rulers
- 17Chapter 17The Dynasties of the Sons of PurūravāThe descendants of Āyu include Dhanvantari, the inaugurator of medical science, and the powerful Rajī.Mostly Visarga ·17 verses
- 18Chapter 18King Yayāti Regains His YouthYayāti marries Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā, receives a curse of old age, and has his invalidity accepted by Pūru.Mostly Ūti ·51 verses · Yayāti gives up enjoyment
- 19Chapter 19King Yayāti Achieves LiberationYayāti explains unsatisfied desire through a goat story, renounces material enjoyment and achieves liberation.Mostly Ūti ·29 verses · Yayāti gives up enjoyment
- 20Chapter 20The Dynasty of PūruPūru’s dynasty includes Duṣmanta, his marriage to Śakuntalā, and their son Bharata.Mostly Visarga ·39 verses · Duṣmanta and Śakuntalā
- 21Chapter 21The Dynasty of BharataRantideva gives food and water to needy guests; Bharata’s dynasty continues through other descendants.Mostly Visarga ·36 verses · Rantideva’s compassion
- 22Chapter 22The Descendants of AjamīḍhaAjamīḍha’s descendants include Jarāsandha, the Kuru family, the sons of Pāṇḍu, and Parīkṣit’s successors.Mostly Visarga ·49 verses
- 23Chapter 23The Dynasties of the Sons of YayātiŚukadeva describes the dynasties of Yayāti’s sons Anu, Druhyu, Turvasu and Yadu.Mostly Visarga ·38 verses
- 24Chapter 24Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of GodheadThe dynasties lead to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose activities deliver living beings.Mostly Visarga ·67 verses
Chapter lines and stories are short summaries drawn from the Bhāgavatam's own chapter summaries and translations. Read each chapter in full for the text itself.