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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 13: The Dynasty of Mahārāja Nimi

9.13.25 9.13.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.13.26

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

शुनकस्तत्सुतो जज्ञे वीतहव्यो धृतिस्तत: ।

बहुलाश्वो धृतेस्तस्य कृतिरस्य महावशी ॥ २६ ॥

śunakas tat-suto jajñe

vītahavyo dhṛtis tataḥ

bahulāśvo dhṛtes tasya

kṛtir asya mahāvaśī

Translation

The son of Ṛta was Śunaka, the son of Śunaka was Vītahavya, the son of Vītahavya was Dhṛti, and the son of Dhṛti was Bahulāśva. The son of Bahulāśva was Kṛti, and his son was Mahāvaśī.

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.

The Line From Ṛta to Mahāvaśī

1
Ṛta’s son was Śunaka, and Śunaka’s son was Vītahavya.
2
Vītahavya’s son was Dhṛti, and Dhṛti’s son was Bahulāśva.
3
Bahulāśva’s son was Kṛti, whose son was Mahāvaśī.

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

Chapter 13: The Dynasty of Mahārāja Nimi

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. All of these sons were great self-controlled personalities.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.13

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śunakaḥŚunaka
tat-sutaḥthe son of Ṛta
jajñewas born
vītahavyaḥVītahavya
dhṛtiḥDhṛti
tataḥthe son of Vītahavya
bahulāśvaḥBahulāśva
dhṛteḥfrom Dhṛti

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

Can I trace the relationships from Dhṛti to Mahāvaśī without skipping a generation?

Practice

Write Dhṛti, Bahulāśva, Kṛti and Mahāvaśī in order, then read their relationships aloud.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Line From Ṛta to MahāvaśīThis 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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