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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 14: King Purūravā Enchanted by Urvaśī
9.14.39.14.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.14.4

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.14.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सोऽयजद् राजसूयेन विजित्य भुवनत्रयम् ।

पत्नीं बृहस्पतेर्दर्पात् तारां नामाहरद् बलात् ॥ ४ ॥

so ’yajad rājasūyena

vijitya bhuvana-trayam

patnīṁ bṛhaspater darpāt

tārāṁ nāmāharad balāt

Translation

After conquering the three worlds [the upper, middle and lower planetary systems], Soma, the moon-god, performed a great sacrifice known as the Rājasūya-yajña. Because he was very much puffed up, he forcibly kidnapped Bṛhaspati’s wife, whose name was Tārā.

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.

Pride Can Accompany Great Achievement

  1. 1

    Soma conquered the three worlds: the upper, middle and lower planetary systems.

  2. 2

    He then performed the great sacrifice known as the Rājasūya-yajña.

  3. 3

    Despite these achievements, he became very much puffed up. Out of pride, he forcibly kidnapped Tārā, Bṛhaspati’s wife.

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:

Soma became the conqueror of the entire universe, and, being inflated with pride, he kidnapped Tārā, who was the wife of Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods. A great fight ensued between the demigods and the asuras, but Brahmā rescued Bṛhaspati’s wife from the clutches of Soma and returned her to her husband, thus stopping the fighting.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe, Soma
  2. ayajatperformed
  3. rājasūyenathe sacrifice known as Rājasūya
  4. vijityaafter conquering
  5. bhuvana-trayamthe three worlds (Svarga, Martya and Pātāla)
  6. patnīmthe wife
  7. bṛhaspateḥof Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods
  8. darpātout of pride
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “pride”

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 achievements ever make me feel entitled to disregard another person?

Practice

Recall one recent success and check whether it has made you less considerate toward anyone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPride Can Accompany Great AchievementThis 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 9.14.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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