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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 15: Paraśurāma, the Lord’s Warrior Incarnation
9.15.17-199.15.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.15.20

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.15.17-19inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स्त्रीरत्नैरावृत: क्रीडन् रेवाम्भसि मदोत्कट: ।

वैजयन्तीं स्रजं बिभ्रद् रुरोध सरितं भुजै: ॥ २० ॥

strī-ratnair āvṛtaḥ krīḍan

revāmbhasi madotkaṭaḥ

vaijayantīṁ srajaṁ bibhrad

rurodha saritaṁ bhujaiḥ

Translation

Once while enjoying in the water of the river Narmadā, the puffed-up Kārtavīryārjuna, surrounded by beautiful women and garlanded with a garland of victory, stopped the flow of the water with his arms.

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.

Great Power Accompanied by Pride

  1. 1

    Kārtavīryārjuna was enjoying in the waters of the Narmadā.

  2. 2

    He was surrounded by beautiful women and wore a garland of victory. The translation describes him as puffed-up.

  3. 3

    With his arms, he stopped the river’s flow. His extraordinary display of strength appears alongside his pride.

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 15: Paraśurāma, the Lord’s Warrior Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Bhīma’s son was named Kāñcana, the son of Kāñcana was Hotraka, and the son of Hotraka was Jahnu, who was celebrated for having drunk all the water of the Ganges in one sip. The descendants of Jahnu, one after another, were Puru, Balāka, Ajaka and Kuśa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. strī-ratnaiḥby beautiful women
  2. āvṛtaḥsurrounded
  3. krīḍanenjoying
  4. revā-ambhasiin the water of the river Revā, or Narmadā
  5. mada-utkaṭaḥtoo puffed up because of opulence
  6. vaijayantīm srajamthe garland of victory
  7. bibhratbeing decorated with
  8. rurodhastopped the flow
  9. saritamof the river
  10. bhujaiḥwith his arms
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 9.15

    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 abilities sometimes tempt me to show off?

Practice

Today, use one ability quietly without seeking praise.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGreat Power Accompanied by PrideThis 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 9.15.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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