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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
  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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 14: King Purūravā Enchanted by Urvaśī
9.14.269.14.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.14.27

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

ते उपेत्य महारात्रे तमसि प्रत्युपस्थिते ।

उर्वश्या उरणौ जह्रुर्न्यस्तौ राजनि जायया ॥ २७ ॥

te upetya mahā-rātre

tamasi pratyupasthite

urvaśyā uraṇau jahrur

nyastau rājani jāyayā

Translation

Thus the Gandharvas came to earth, and at midnight, when everything was dark, they appeared in the house of Purūravā and stole the two lambs entrusted to the King by his wife, Urvaśī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lambs Are Stolen at Midnight

  1. 1

    The Gandharvas came to earth and entered Purūravā’s house when everything was dark.

  2. 2

    They stole the two lambs that Urvaśī had entrusted to her husband.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that “the dead of night” means twelve o’clock midnight.

Key points from the purport
  • The mahā-niśā is described in this smṛti-mantra: mahā-niśā dve ghaṭike rātrer madhyama-yāmayoḥ, “Twelve o’clock midnight is called the dead of night.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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 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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tethey, the Gandharvas
  2. upetyacoming there
  3. mahā-rātrein the dead of night
  4. tamasiwhen the darkness
  5. pratyupasthiteappeared
  6. urvaśyāby Urvaśī
  7. uraṇautwo lambs
  8. jahruḥstole
3

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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What has someone entrusted to my care?

Practice

Check on one thing entrusted to you and make sure it is safe.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lambs Are Stolen at MidnightThis 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 9.14.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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