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Canto 9 · Liberation · 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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.1.21

Who is speaking and story frame

एवं व्यवसितो राजन् भगवान् स महायशा: ।

अस्तौषीदादिपुरुषमिलाया: पुंस्त्वकाम्यया ॥ २१ ॥

evaṁ vyavasito rājan

bhagavān sa mahā-yaśāḥ

astauṣīd ādi-puruṣam

ilāyāḥ puṁstva-kāmyayā

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King Parīkṣit, after the most famous and powerful Vasiṣṭha made this decision, he offered prayers to the Supreme Person, Viṣṇu, to transform Ilā into a male.

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.

Powerful Vasiṣṭha Prays to the Supreme

  1. 1

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī described Vasiṣṭha’s action to King Parīkṣit.

  2. 2

    Although Vasiṣṭha was very famous and powerful, he offered prayers to Viṣṇu, the Supreme Person.

  3. 3

    His specific prayer was that Ilā would be transformed into a male.

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. evamthus
  2. vyavasitaḥdeciding
  3. rājanO King Parīkṣit
  4. bhagavānthe most powerful
  5. saḥVasiṣṭha
  6. mahā-yaśāḥvery famous
  7. astauṣītoffered prayers
  8. ādi-puruṣamunto the Supreme Person, Lord Viṣṇu
  9. ilāyāḥof Ilā
  10. puṁstva-kāmyayāfor the transformation into a male
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.1

    In this verse: “king”

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 does Vasiṣṭha’s prayerful approach teach me about relying only on my own abilities?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to offer a respectful prayer to the Supreme Person.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPowerful Vasiṣṭha Prays to the SupremeThis 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 9.1.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.