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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.2.23

Who is speaking and story frame

सम्परेते पितरि नव भ्रातरो मेरुदुहितृर्मेरुदेवीं प्रतिरूपामुग्रदंष्ट्रीं लतां रम्यां श्यामां नारीं भद्रां देववीतिमितिसंज्ञा नवोदवहन् ॥ २३ ॥

samparete pitari nava bhrātaro meru-duhitṝr merudevīṁ pratirūpām ugradaṁṣṭrīṁ latāṁ ramyāṁ śyāmāṁ nārīṁ bhadrāṁ devavītim iti saṁjñā navodavahan.

Translation

After the departure of their father, the nine brothers married the nine daughters of Meru named Merudevī, Pratirūpā, Ugradaṁṣṭrī, Latā, Ramyā, Śyāmā, Nārī, Bhadrā and Devavīti.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Nine Brothers Married Meru’s Daughters

  1. 1

    After their father’s departure, the nine brothers married the nine daughters of Meru.

  2. 2

    The daughters included Merudevī, Pratirūpā, Ugradaṁṣṭrī and Latā.

  3. 3

    The other daughters were Ramyā, Śyāmā, Nārī, Bhadrā and Devavīti.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fifth Canto, Second Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Activities of Mahārāja Āgnīdhra.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Responsibility → Renunciation. Leadership is set beside the renounced ideal.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 5: Priyavrata and Ṛṣabhadeva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: The Activities of Mahārāja Āgnīdhra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Āgnīdhra, however, his senses unsatisfied, was always thinking of his celestial wife, and therefore in his next life he was born in her celestial planet. After the death of Āgnīdhra, his nine sons married nine daughters of Meru named Merudevī, Pratirūpā, Ugradaṁṣṭrī, Latā, Ramyā, Śyāmā, Nārī, Bhadrā and Devavīti.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.2
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. samparete pitariafter the departure of their father
  2. navanine
  3. bhrātaraḥbrothers
  4. meru-duhitṝḥthe daughters of Meru
  5. merudevīmMerudevī
  6. prati-rūpāmPratirūpā
  7. ugra-daṁṣṭrīmUgradaṁṣṭrī
  8. latāmLatā
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “father”, “father’s”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What change in the brothers’ family life does this verse record?

Practice

Write one sentence summarizing who married whom and when the marriages took place.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Nine Brothers Married Meru’s DaughtersThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 5.2.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.