1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 9 · Liberation · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
9.14.419.14.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.14.42

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Urvaśīsince 9.14.42inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गन्धर्वानुपधावेमांस्तुभ्यं दास्यन्ति मामिति ।

तस्य संस्तुवतस्तुष्टा अग्निस्थालीं ददुर्नृप ।

उर्वशीं मन्यमानस्तां सोऽबुध्यत चरन् वने ॥ ४२ ॥

gandharvān upadhāvemāṁs

tubhyaṁ dāsyanti mām iti

tasya saṁstuvatas tuṣṭā

agni-sthālīṁ dadur nṛpa

urvaśīṁ manyamānas tāṁ

so ’budhyata caran vane

Translation

Urvaśī said: “My dear King, seek shelter of the Gandharvas, for they will be able to deliver me to you again.” In accordance with these words, the King satisfied the Gandharvas by prayers, and the Gandharvas, being pleased with him, gave him an Agnisthālī girl who looked exactly like Urvaśī. Thinking that the girl was Urvaśī, the King began walking with her in the forest, but later he could understand that she was not Urvaśī but Agnisthālī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Desire and Mistaken Recognition

  1. 1

    Following Urvaśī's advice, Purūravā satisfied the Gandharvas with prayers. They gave him an Agnisthālī girl who looked exactly like Urvaśī.

  2. 2

    Thinking she was Urvaśī, he walked with her in the forest. The purport describes him as very lusty and eager for sexual union.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that during sexual intercourse he recognized that she was Agnisthālī, not Urvaśī, because he knew Urvaśī's particular characteristics.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that Purūravā was very lusty.
  • This indicates that every man attached to a particular woman knows the particular characteristics of that woman during sex life.
  • Thus Purūravā understood during sexual intercourse that the Agnisthālī girl was not Urvaśī.

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:

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. gandharvānunto the Gandharvas
  2. upadhāvago take shelter
  3. imānthese
  4. tubhyamunto you
  5. dāsyantiwill deliver
  6. mām itiexactly like me, or me factually
  7. tasyaby him
  8. saṁstuvataḥoffering prayers
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”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Can strong desire make you accept an appearance before understanding what is actually there?

Practice

Before acting on one strong desire today, pause and check whether your impression matches the facts.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDesire and Mistaken RecognitionThis 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 9.14.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories