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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
9.1.359.1.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.1.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.1.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं स्रीत्वमनुप्राप्त: सुद्युम्नो मानवो नृप: ।

सस्मार स कुलाचार्यं वसिष्ठमिति शुश्रुम ॥ ३६ ॥

evaṁ strītvam anuprāptaḥ

sudyumno mānavo nṛpaḥ

sasmāra sa kulācāryaṁ

vasiṣṭham iti śuśruma

Translation

I heard from reliable sources that King Sudyumna, the son of Manu, having thus achieved femininity, remembered his familial spiritual master, Vasiṣṭha.

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.

Remembering the Spiritual Master

  1. 1

    King Sudyumna, the son of Manu, had become a woman.

  2. 2

    In this condition, Sudyumna remembered his familial spiritual master, Vasiṣṭha.

  3. 3

    The account is presented as something heard from reliable sources.

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 grace of Lord Śiva, Sudyumna received the benediction that he would live one month as a woman and one month as a man. Thus he regained his kingdom and had three sons, named Utkala, Gaya and Vimala, who were all very religious.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamin this way
  2. strītvamfemininity
  3. anuprāptaḥhaving achieved in that way
  4. sudyumnaḥthe male named Sudyumna
  5. mānavaḥthe son of Manu
  6. nṛpaḥthe king
  7. sasmāraremembered
  8. saḥhe
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 9.1

    In this verse: “heard”

  • 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

Do I remember spiritual guidance when my circumstances become difficult?

Practice

Take a quiet minute to recall one instruction you have received from a trusted spiritual teacher.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembering the Spiritual MasterThis 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 9.1.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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