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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
9.13.199.13.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.13.20-21

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 9.13.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कृतध्वजात् केशिध्वज: खाण्डिक्यस्तु मितध्वजात् ।

कृतध्वजसुतो राजन्नात्मविद्याविशारद: ॥ २० ॥

खाण्डिक्य: कर्मतत्त्वज्ञो भीत: केशिध्वजाद्‍द्रुत: ।

भानुमांस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभूच्छतद्युम्नस्तु तत्सुत: ॥ २१ ॥

kṛtadhvajāt keśidhvajaḥ

khāṇḍikyas tu mitadhvajāt

kṛtadhvaja-suto rājann

ātma-vidyā-viśāradaḥ

khāṇḍikyaḥ karma-tattva-jño

bhītaḥ keśidhvajād drutaḥ

bhānumāṁs tasya putro ’bhūc

chatadyumnas tu tat-sutaḥ

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the son of Kṛtadhvaja was Keśidhvaja, and the son of Mitadhvaja was Khāṇḍikya. The son of Kṛtadhvaja was expert in spiritual knowledge, and the son of Mitadhvaja was expert in Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. Khāṇḍikya fled in fear of Keśidhvaja. The son of Keśidhvaja was Bhānumān, and the son of Bhānumān was Śatadyumna.

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.

Spiritual Knowledge and Ritual Expertise

  1. 1

    Kṛtadhvaja’s son Keśidhvaja was expert in spiritual knowledge. Mitadhvaja’s son Khāṇḍikya was expert in Vedic ritualistic ceremonies.

  2. 2

    Khāṇḍikya fled in fear of Keśidhvaja.

  3. 3

    Keśidhvaja’s son was Bhānumān. Bhānumān’s son was Śatadyumna.

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 Kṛtadhvaja was Keśidhvaja, and the son of Mitadhvaja was Khāṇḍikya. Keśidhvaja was a self-realized soul, and his son was Bhānumān, whose descendants were as follows: Śatadyumna, Śuci, Sanadvāja, Ūrjaketu, Aja, Purujit, Ariṣṭanemi, Śrutāyu, Supārśvaka, Citraratha, Kṣemādhi, Samaratha, Satyaratha, Upaguru, Upagupta, Vasvananta, Yuyudha, Subhāṣaṇa, Śruta, Jaya, Vijaya, Ṛta, Śunaka, Vītahavya, Dhṛti, Bahulāśva, Kṛti and Mahāvaśī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kṛtadhvajātfrom Kṛtadhvaja
  2. keśidhvajaḥa son named Keśidhvaja
  3. khāṇḍikyaḥ tualso a son named Khāṇḍikya
  4. mitadhvajātfrom Mitadhvaja
  5. kṛtadhvaja-sutaḥthe son of Kṛtadhvaja
  6. rājanO King
  7. ātma-vidyā-viśāradaḥexpert in transcendental science
  8. khāṇḍikyaḥKing Khāṇḍikya
3

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.13

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Am I noticing the distinction this verse makes between spiritual knowledge and ritual expertise?

Practice

Write Keśidhvaja and Khāṇḍikya side by side, noting the kind of knowledge attributed to each.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Knowledge and Ritual ExpertiseThis 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 9.13.20-21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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