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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 14: King Purūravā Enchanted by Urvaśī

9.14.25 9.14.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.14.26

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.14.24inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अपश्यन्नुर्वशीमिन्द्रो गन्धर्वान् समचोदयत् ।

उर्वशीरहितं मह्यमास्थानं नातिशोभते ॥ २६ ॥

apaśyann urvaśīm indro

gandharvān samacodayat

urvaśī-rahitaṁ mahyam

āsthānaṁ nātiśobhate

Translation

Not seeing Urvaśī in his assembly, the King of heaven, Lord Indra, said, “Without Urvaśī my assembly is no longer beautiful.” Considering this, he requested the Gandharvas to bring her back to his heavenly planet.

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.

Indra Desires Urvaśī’s Return

1
Lord Indra, the King of heaven, noticed that Urvaśī was absent from his assembly.
2
He felt that without her his assembly was no longer beautiful.
3
He requested the Gandharvas to bring Urvaśī back to his heavenly planet.

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 14: King Purūravā Enchanted by Urvaśī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Urvaśī then advised Purūravā to worship the Gandharvas. Being satisfied with Purūravā, the Gandharvas gave him a woman known as Agnisthālī.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.14

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

apaśyanwithout seeing
urvaśīmUrvaśī
indraḥthe King of the heavenly planet
gandharvānunto the Gandharvas
samacodayatinstructed
urvaśī-rahitamwithout Urvaśī
mahyammy
āsthānamplace
nanot
atiśobhateappears beautiful

Key ideas in this verse

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

Ūti · The creative impetus
Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.14
In this verse: “king”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does someone’s absence change the way I see a familiar place?

Practice

Reflect briefly on one person whose presence you appreciate and identify what you value about it.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra Desires Urvaśī’s ReturnThis 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 9.14.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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