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

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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 ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 1: King Sudyumna Becomes a Woman
9.1.229.1.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.1.23-24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.1.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स एकदा महाराज विचरन् मृगयां वने ।

वृत: कतिपयामात्यैरश्वमारुह्य सैन्धवम् ॥ २३ ॥

प्रगृह्य रुचिरं चापं शरांश्च परमाद्भ‍ुतान् ।

दंशितोऽनुमृगं वीरो जगाम दिशमुत्तराम् ॥ २४ ॥

sa ekadā mahārāja

vicaran mṛgayāṁ vane

vṛtaḥ katipayāmātyair

aśvam āruhya saindhavam

pragṛhya ruciraṁ cāpaṁ

śarāṁś ca paramādbhutān

daṁśito ’numṛgaṁ vīro

jagāma diśam uttarām

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, that hero Sudyumna, accompanied by a few ministers and associates and riding on a horse brought from Sindhupradeśa, once went into the forest to hunt. He wore armor and was decorated with bows and arrows, and he was very beautiful. While following the animals and killing them, he reached the northern part of the forest.

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.

Sudyumna’s Hunt Leads into the Northern Forest

  1. 1

    The hero Sudyumna went into the forest to hunt, accompanied by a few ministers and associates.

  2. 2

    He rode a horse brought from Sindhupradeśa, wore armor, and carried bows and arrows. He was described as very beautiful.

  3. 3

    While following and killing animals, he reached the northern part of the forest.

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:

Once upon a time, Sudyumna went on tour with his ministers. At the foot of the mountain Sumeru there is a forest named Sukumāra, and as soon as they entered that forest, they were all transformed into women.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥSudyumna
  2. ekadāonce upon a time
  3. mahārājaO King Parīkṣit
  4. vicarantouring
  5. mṛgayāmfor hunting
  6. vanein the forest
  7. vṛtaḥaccompanied
  8. katipayaa few
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 details help me follow Sudyumna’s movement through this scene?

Practice

Reread the translation and briefly summarize who accompanied Sudyumna and where his hunt led him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySudyumna’s Hunt Leads into the Northern ForestThis 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 9.1.23-24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.