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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 12: The Dynasty of Kuśa, the Son of Lord Rāmacandra
9.12.159.13.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.12.16

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.12.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इक्ष्वाकूणामयं वंश: सुमित्रान्तो भविष्यति ।

यतस्तं प्राप्य राजानं संस्थां प्राप्स्यति वै कलौ ॥ १६ ॥

ikṣvākūṇām ayaṁ vaṁśaḥ

sumitrānto bhaviṣyati

yatas taṁ prāpya rājānaṁ

saṁsthāṁ prāpsyati vai kalau

Translation

The last king in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku will be Sumitra; after Sumitra there will be no more sons in the dynasty of the sun-god, and thus the dynasty will end.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sumitra Is the Last King

  1. 1

    Sumitra will be the last king in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku.

  2. 2

    After Sumitra, there will be no more sons in the dynasty of the sun-god.

  3. 3

    The dynasty will therefore end with Sumitra.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Dynasty of Kuśa, the Son of Lord Rāmacandra.”

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

Exile and separation → Loyalty and reunion. Duty, loss and sacrifice shape the dramatic center of this canto.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 9: The pastimes of Lord Rāmacandra. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 12: The Dynasty of Kuśa, the Son of Lord Rāmacandra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

All of them will become kings one after another. Sumitra, coming in this Age of Kali, will be the last king in the Ikṣvāku dynasty; after him, the dynasty will be extinguished.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ikṣvākūṇāmof the dynasty of King Ikṣvāku
  2. ayamthis (what has been described)
  3. vaṁśaḥdescendants
  4. sumitra-antaḥSumitra being the last king of this dynasty
  5. bhaviṣyatiwill appear in the future, while the Kali-yuga still continues
  6. yataḥbecause
  7. tamhim, Mahārāja Sumitra
  8. prāpyagetting
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.12

    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 this verse state clearly about why the dynasty will end?

Practice

Today, write one sentence explaining Sumitra’s place in the dynasty, using only the translation.

Live this todaySumitra Is the Last KingThis 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 9.12.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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