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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

9.12.1 9.12.3-4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.12.2

Visarga· Brahmā's creation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.12.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

देवानीकस्ततोऽनीह: पारियात्रोऽथ तत्सुत: ।

ततो बलस्थलस्तस्माद् वज्रनाभोऽर्कसम्भव: ॥ २ ॥

devānīkas tato ’nīhaḥ

pāriyātro ’tha tat-sutaḥ

tato balasthalas tasmād

vajranābho ’rka-sambhavaḥ

Translation

The son of Kṣemadhanvā was Devānīka, Devānīka’s son was Anīha, Anīha’s son was Pāriyātra, and Pāriyātra’s son was Balasthala. The son of Balasthala was Vajranābha, who was said to have been born from the effulgence of the sun-god.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vajranābha and the Sun-god’s Effulgence

1
Kṣemadhanvā’s son was Devānīka, and Devānīka’s son was Anīha.
2
Anīha’s son was Pāriyātra, whose son was Balasthala.
3
Balasthala’s son was Vajranābha. He was said to have been born from the effulgence of the sun-god.

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

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

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Following in the genealogical table of Lord Rāmacandra’s dynasty, Kuśa, the Lord’s son, was followed consecutively by Atithi, Niṣadha, Nabha, Puṇḍarīka, Kṣemadhanvā, Devānīka, Anīha, Pāriyātra, Balasthala, Vajranābha, Sagaṇa and Vidhṛti. These personalities ruled the world.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.12

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

devānīkaḥDevānīka
tataḥfrom Kṣemadhanvā
anīhaḥfrom Devānīka came the son named Anīha
pāriyātraḥPāriyātra
athathereafter
tat-sutaḥthe son of Anīha
tataḥfrom Pāriyātra
balasthalaḥBalasthala

Key ideas in this verse

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

Visarga · Subcreation
How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What detail about Vajranābha makes him stand out in this list?

Practice

Read the lineage aloud once, then recall the description of Vajranābha’s birth.

Live this todayVajranābha and the Sun-god’s EffulgenceThis 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 9.12.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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