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

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

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 ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 1: King Sudyumna Becomes a Woman
9.1.379.1.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.1.38-39

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.1.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तुष्टस्तस्मै स भगवानृषये प्रियमावहन् ।

स्वां च वाचमृतां कुर्वन्निदमाह विशाम्पते ॥ ३८ ॥

मासं पुमान् स भविता मासं स्री तव गोत्रज: ।

इत्थं व्यवस्थया कामं सुद्युम्नोऽवतु मेदिनीम् ॥ ३९ ॥

tuṣṭas tasmai sa bhagavān

ṛṣaye priyam āvahan

svāṁ ca vācam ṛtāṁ kurvann

idam āha viśāmpate

māsaṁ pumān sa bhavitā

māsaṁ strī tava gotrajaḥ

itthaṁ vyavasthayā kāmaṁ

sudyumno ’vatu medinīm

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, Lord Śiva was pleased with Vasiṣṭha. Therefore, to satisfy him and to keep his own word to Pārvatī, Lord Śiva said to that saintly person, “Your disciple Sudyumna may remain a male for one month and a female for the next. In this way he may rule the world as he likes.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Disciples Also Belong to the Dynasty

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva was pleased with Vasiṣṭha. To satisfy him while keeping his word to Pārvatī, he allowed Sudyumna to alternate between male and female each month and rule the world.

  2. 2

    Brāhmaṇas generally act as spiritual masters of both their disciplic succession and their family descendants. Both belong to the same gotra, or dynasty.

  3. 3

    The word gotrajaḥ includes both disciples and family members within the same dynasty. The purport explains that brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and even vaiśyas may belong to the disciplic succession of the same ṛṣis.

Key points from the purport
  • Both descendants belong to the same gotra, or dynasty.
  • Because the gotra and dynasty are one, there is no difference between the disciples and the family born of the semen.
  • Here the word gotrajaḥ refers to those born in the same dynasty, whether they be disciples or members of the family.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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. tuṣṭaḥbeing pleased
  2. tasmaiunto Vasiṣṭha
  3. saḥhe (Lord Śiva)
  4. bhagavānthe most powerful
  5. ṛṣayeunto the great sage
  6. priyam āvahanjust to please him
  7. svām cahis own
  8. vācamword
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 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

How does this explanation broaden my understanding of belonging to a spiritual dynasty?

Practice

Write a brief definition of gotrajaḥ that includes both disciples and family descendants.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDisciples Also Belong to the DynastyThis 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 9.1.38-39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.