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
9.14.489.15.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.14.49

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

पुरूरवस एवासीत् त्रयी त्रेतामुखे नृप ।

अग्निना प्रजया राजा लोकं गान्धर्वमेयिवान् ॥ ४९ ॥

purūravasa evāsīt

trayī tretā-mukhe nṛpa

agninā prajayā rājā

lokaṁ gāndharvam eyivān

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, at the beginning of Tretā-yuga, King Purūravā inaugurated a karma-kāṇḍa sacrifice. Thus Purūravā, who considered the yajñic fire his son, was able to go to Gandharvaloka as he desired.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship and Its Results Across the Ages

  1. 1

    In Satya-yuga, everyone meditated upon Lord Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa. Through this meditation they achieved every success.

  2. 2

    The performance of yajña began in Tretā-yuga. Ritualistic ceremonies are generally called fruitive activities.

  3. 3

    At the beginning of Tretā-yuga, Purūravā inaugurated a karma-kāṇḍa sacrifice. Considering the sacrificial fire his son, he reached Gandharvaloka as he desired.

Key points from the purport
  • In Satya-yuga, Lord Nārāyaṇa was worshiped by meditation (kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇum).
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says that in Tretā-yuga, beginning in the Svāyambhuva-manvantara, ritualistic fruitive activities were similarly manifested from Priyavrata, etc.
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Fourteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “King Purūravā Enchanted by 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:

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. purūravasaḥfrom King Purūravā
  2. evathus
  3. āsītthere was
  4. trayīthe Vedic principles of karma, jñāna and upāsanā
  5. tretā-mukhein the beginning of the Tretā-yuga
  6. nṛpaO King Parīkṣit
  7. agnināsimply by generating the fire of sacrifice
  8. prajayāby his son
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 result was Purūravā seeking through his sacrifice, and what result am I seeking through worship?

Practice

Reread the translation and write one sentence identifying Purūravā’s desired result and the means he used.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.14's connections

Live this todayWorship and Its Results Across the AgesThis 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 9.14.49? 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