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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
9.14.44-459.14.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.14.46

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Urvaśīsince 9.14.42inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्य निर्मन्थनाज्जातो जातवेदा विभावसु: ।

त्रय्या स विद्यया राज्ञा पुत्रत्वे कल्पितस्त्रिवृत् ॥ ४६ ॥

tasya nirmanthanāj jāto

jāta-vedā vibhāvasuḥ

trayyā sa vidyayā rājñā

putratve kalpitas tri-vṛt

Translation

From Purūravā’s rubbing of the araṇis came a fire. By such a fire one can achieve all success in material enjoyment and be purified in seminal birth, initiation and in the performance of sacrifice, which are invoked with the combined letters a-u-m. Thus the fire was considered the son of King Purūravā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Sacrificial Fire Became Purūravā’s Son

  1. 1

    Purūravā produced fire by rubbing the araṇis. This sacrificial fire was considered his son.

  2. 2

    The purport describes obtaining a son through semen, a bona fide disciple through initiation, or a son or disciple through the fire of sacrifice.

  3. 3

    The Vedic mantra oṁkāra, also called praṇava, consists of the letters a-u-m. It can call each of these three methods into existence.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the Vedic process, one can get a son through semen (śukra), one can get a bona fide disciple through initiation (sāvitra), or one can get a son or disciple through the fire of sacrifice (yajña).
  • Thus when Mahārāja Purūravā generated the fire by rubbing the araṇis, the fire became his son.
  • Therefore the words nirmanthanāj jātaḥ indicate that by the rubbing of the araṇis a son was born.

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:

The fire was considered the son of Purūravā. In Satya-yuga there was only one social division, called haṁsa; there were no divisions of varṇa like brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaof Purūravā
  2. nirmanthanātbecause of interaction
  3. jātaḥwas born
  4. jāta-vedāḥmeant for material enjoyment according to the Vedic principles
  5. vibhāvasuḥa fire
  6. trayyāfollowing the Vedic principles
  7. saḥthe fire
  8. vidyayāby such a process
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 9.14

    In this verse: “purified”

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

How does the purport help me understand why Purūravā regarded the fire as his son?

Practice

Write down the three methods described in the purport: birth through semen, initiation, and sacrifice.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Sacrificial Fire Became Purūravā’s SonThis 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 9.14.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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