1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 9 · Liberation · 24 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 · Texts 9.1.2-3

Who is speaking and story frame

योऽसौ सत्यव्रतो नाम राजर्षिर्द्रविडेश्वर: ।

ज्ञानं योऽतीतकल्पान्ते लेभे पुरुषसेवया ॥ २ ॥

स वै विवस्वत: पुत्रो मनुरासीदिति श्रुतम् ।

त्वत्तस्तस्य सुता:प्रोक्ता इक्ष्वाकुप्रमुखा नृपा: ॥ ३ ॥

yo ’sau satyavrato nāma

rājarṣir draviḍeśvaraḥ

jñānaṁ yo ’tīta-kalpānte

lebhe puruṣa-sevayā

sa vai vivasvataḥ putro

manur āsīd iti śrutam

tvattas tasya sutāḥ proktā

ikṣvāku-pramukhā nṛpāḥ

Translation

Satyavrata, the saintly king of Draviḍadeśa who received spiritual knowledge at the end of the last millennium by the grace of the Supreme, later became Vaivasvata Manu, the son of Vivasvān, in the next manvantara [period of Manu]. I have received this knowledge from you. I also understand that such kings as Ikṣvāku were his sons, as you have already explained.

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.

Spiritual Knowledge Comes by the Supreme’s Grace

  1. 1

    Satyavrata was the saintly king of Draviḍadeśa. He received spiritual knowledge by the grace of the Supreme at the end of the last millennium.

  2. 2

    In the next manvantara, or period of Manu, he became Vaivasvata Manu, the son of Vivasvān.

  3. 3

    Kings such as Ikṣvāku were his sons. The speaker recalls knowledge he has already received by hearing.

How it feels

Change → Acceptance. The instability of worldly identities is a recurring premise.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 9: Dynastic origins and domestic transformations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: King Sudyumna Becomes a Woman

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

By the desire of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Śukadeva Gosvāmī told about the dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu, who was formerly King Satyavrata, the ruler of Draviḍa. While describing this dynasty, he also described how the Supreme Personality of Godhead, while lying down in the waters of devastation, gave birth to Lord Brahmā from a lotus generated from His navel.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥ asauhe who was known
  2. satyavrataḥSatyavrata
  3. nāmaby the name
  4. rāja-ṛṣiḥthe saintly king
  5. draviḍa-īśvaraḥthe ruler of the Draviḍa countries
  6. jñānamknowledge
  7. yaḥone who
  8. atīta-kalpa-anteat the end of the period of the last Manu, or at the end of the last millennium
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.1

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.1

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 9.1

    In this verse: “grace”

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

How can remembering the Supreme’s grace deepen your appreciation for spiritual knowledge?

Practice

Reread the translation and pause to appreciate spiritual knowledge as a gift of the Supreme’s grace.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todaySpiritual Knowledge Comes by the Supreme’s GraceThis 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 9.1.2-3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.