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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 13: The Dynasty of Mahārāja Nimi
9.13.179.13.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.13.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 9.13.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत: शीरध्वजो जज्ञे यज्ञार्थं कर्षतो महीम् ।

सीता शीराग्रतो जाता तस्मात् शीरध्वज: स्मृत: ॥ १८ ॥

tataḥ śīradhvajo jajñe

yajñārthaṁ karṣato mahīm

sītā śīrāgrato jātā

tasmāt śīradhvajaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

From Hrasvaromā came a son named Śīradhvaja [also called Janaka]. When Śīradhvaja was plowing a field, from the front of his plow [śīra] appeared a daughter named Sītādevī, who later became the wife of Lord Rāmacandra. Thus he was known as Śīradhvaja.

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.

Sītādevī Appears Before the Plow

  1. 1

    Hrasvaromā’s son was Śīradhvaja, also called Janaka.

  2. 2

    While Śīradhvaja was plowing a field, a daughter named Sītādevī appeared from the front of his plow. This event explains his name Śīradhvaja.

  3. 3

    Sītādevī later became the wife of Lord Rāmacandra.

How it feels

Longing and conflict → Detachment and justice. Dynastic episodes explore personal desire and force.

Chapters 13–17 of Canto 9: Nimi, Purūravā and Paraśurāma. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: The Dynasty of Mahārāja Nimi

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The son of Nandivardhana was Suketu, and his descendants continued as follows: Devarāta, Bṛhadratha, Mahāvīrya, Sudhṛti, Dhṛṣṭaketu, Haryaśva, Maru, Pratīpaka, Kṛtaratha, Devamīḍha, Viśruta, Mahādhṛti, Kṛtirāta, Mahāromā, Svarṇaromā, Hrasvaromā and Śīradhvaja. All these sons appeared in the dynasty one after another.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥfrom Hrasvaromā
  2. śīradhvajaḥa son named Śīradhvaja
  3. jajñewas born
  4. yajña-arthamfor performing sacrifices
  5. karṣataḥwhile plowing the field
  6. mahīmthe earth
  7. sītāmother Sītā, the wife of Lord Rāmacandra
  8. śīra-agrataḥfrom the front portion of the plow
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

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 Sītādevī’s appearance help me remember the meaning of Śīradhvaja’s name?

Practice

Reread the translation and briefly recall Sītādevī’s appearance and her relationship with Lord Rāmacandra.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySītādevī Appears Before the PlowThis 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.

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