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

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti
8.9.98.9.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.9.10

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.9.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सालावृकाणां स्त्रीणां च स्वैरिणीनां सुरद्विष: ।

सख्यान्याहुरनित्यानि नूत्नं नूत्नं विचिन्वताम् ॥ १० ॥

sālāvṛkāṇāṁ strīṇāṁ ca

svairiṇīnāṁ sura-dviṣaḥ

sakhyāny āhur anityāni

nūtnaṁ nūtnaṁ vicinvatām

Translation

O demons, as monkeys, jackals and dogs are unsteady in their sexual relationships and want newer and newer friends every day, women who live independently seek new friends daily. Friendship with such a woman is never permanent. This is the opinion of learned scholars.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Constant Novelty Makes Friendship Unsteady

  1. 1

    Mohinī continues Her warning to the demons by describing unsteady sexual relationships.

  2. 2

    She compares monkeys, jackals and dogs seeking new partners with women living independently who seek new friends daily.

  3. 3

    Citing the opinion of learned scholars, She says that friendship with such a woman is not permanent.

How it feels

Danger and ambition → Divine rescue and surprise. Cooperation, rivalry and revelation alternate rapidly.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 8: Churning the ocean, poison and nectar. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When the demons made this promise, the beautiful woman, Mohinī-mūrti, had the demigods and demons sit in different lines so that She could distribute the nectar. She knew that the demons were quite unfit to drink the nectar.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sālāvṛkāṇāmof monkeys, jackals and dogs
  2. strīṇām caand of women
  3. svairiṇīnāmespecially women who are independent
  4. sura-dviṣaḥO demons
  5. sakhyānifriendship
  6. āhuḥit is said
  7. anityānitemporary
  8. nūtnamnew friends
  9. nūtnamnew friends
  10. vicinvatāmall of whom are thinking
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “friends”

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

Does my desire for something new make me unsteady in my relationships?

Practice

Keep one small promise to a friend today rather than abandoning it for a new attraction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayConstant Novelty Makes Friendship UnsteadyThis 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 8.9.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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