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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 9.1.40

Who is speaking and story frame

आचार्यानुग्रहात् कामं लब्ध्वा पुंस्त्वं व्यवस्थया ।

पालयामास जगतीं नाभ्यनन्दन् स्म तं प्रजा: ॥ ४० ॥

ācāryānugrahāt kāmaṁ

labdhvā puṁstvaṁ vyavasthayā

pālayām āsa jagatīṁ

nābhyanandan sma taṁ prajāḥ

Translation

Thus being favored by the spiritual master, according to the words of Lord Śiva, Sudyumna regained his desired maleness every alternate month and in this way ruled the kingdom, although the citizens were not satisfied with this.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Royal Duty and the Citizens’ Satisfaction

  1. 1

    By the spiritual master’s favor, Sudyumna regained his desired maleness every alternate month, according to Lord Śiva’s words.

  2. 2

    Under this arrangement, Sudyumna continued to rule the kingdom.

  3. 3

    The citizens understood that his transformation every alternate month prevented him from discharging his royal duty. Therefore, they were not satisfied.

Key points from the purport
  • The citizens could understand that the king was transformed into a female every alternate month and therefore could not discharge his royal duty.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ācārya-anugrahātby the mercy of the spiritual master
  2. kāmamdesired
  3. labdhvāhaving achieved
  4. puṁstvammaleness
  5. vyavasthayāby this settlement of Lord Śiva
  6. pālayām āsahe ruled
  7. jagatīmthe whole world
  8. na abhyanandan smawere not satisfied with
  9. tamto the king
  10. prajāḥthe citizens
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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: “kingdom”, “citizens”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 9.1

    In this verse: “favored”, “favor”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.1

    In this verse: “duty”

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 my ability to fulfill my duties affect those who depend on me?

Practice

Choose one responsibility someone depends on you for, and take a concrete step to fulfill it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRoyal Duty and the Citizens’ SatisfactionThis 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 9.1.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.