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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
9.14.289.14.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.14.29

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

यद्विश्रम्भादहं नष्टा हृतापत्या च दस्युभि: ।

य: शेते निशि सन्त्रस्तो यथा नारी दिवा पुमान् ॥ २९ ॥

yad-viśrambhād ahaṁ naṣṭā

hṛtāpatyā ca dasyubhiḥ

yaḥ śete niśi santrasto

yathā nārī divā pumān

Translation

“Because I depended on him, the plunderers have deprived me of my two sons the lambs, and therefore I am now lost. My husband lies down at night in fear, exactly like a woman, although he appears to be a man during the day.”

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.

Urvaśī Laments Her Broken Trust

  1. 1

    Urvaśī said that she had depended on her husband for protection.

  2. 2

    With the lambs stolen, she felt deprived of her two sons and utterly lost.

  3. 3

    She accused her husband of being fearful at night despite appearing brave during the day.

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:

Being satisfied with Purūravā, the Gandharvas gave him a woman known as Agnisthālī. Purūravā mistook Agnisthālī for Urvaśī, but while he was wandering in the forest his misunderstanding was cleared, and he immediately gave up her company.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yat-viśrambhātbecause of depending upon whom
  2. ahamI (am)
  3. naṣṭālost
  4. hṛta-apatyābereft of my two sons, the lambs
  5. caalso
  6. dasyubhiḥby the plunderers
  7. yaḥhe who (my so-called husband)
  8. śetelies down
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “fear”, “fearful”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “protection”

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

Do my actions support the trust others place in me?

Practice

Follow through today on one small responsibility that someone depends on you to fulfill.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUrvaśī Laments Her Broken TrustThis 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 9.14.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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