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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
9.15.209.15.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.15.21

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

विप्लावितं स्वशिबिरं प्रतिस्रोत:सरिज्जलै: ।

नामृष्यत् तस्य तद् वीर्यं वीरमानी दशानन: ॥ २१ ॥

viplāvitaṁ sva-śibiraṁ

pratisrotaḥ-sarij-jalaiḥ

nāmṛṣyat tasya tad vīryaṁ

vīramānī daśānanaḥ

Translation

Because Kārtavīryārjuna made the water flow in the opposite direction, the camp of Rāvaṇa, which was set up on the bank of the Narmadā near the city of Māhiṣmatī, was inundated. This was unbearable to the ten-headed Rāvaṇa, who considered himself a great hero and could not tolerate Kārtavīryārjuna’s power.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pride Cannot Tolerate Another’s Power

  1. 1

    Rāvaṇa was touring to gain victory over other countries. He had camped beside the Narmadā near Māhiṣmatī.

  2. 2

    Kārtavīryārjuna reversed the river’s flow, flooding Rāvaṇa’s camp.

  3. 3

    Rāvaṇa considered himself a great hero. He found Kārtavīryārjuna’s power unbearable.

Key points from the purport
  • Rāvaṇa was out touring to gain victory over all other countries (dig-vijaya), and he had camped on the bank of the Narmadā River near the city of Māhiṣmatī.

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 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. viplāvitamhaving been inundated
  2. sva-śibiramhis own camp
  3. pratisrotaḥwhich was flowing in the opposite direction
  4. sarit-jalaiḥby the water of the river
  5. nanot
  6. amṛṣyatcould tolerate
  7. tasyaof Kārtavīryārjuna
  8. tat vīryamthat influence
  9. vīramānīconsidering himself very heroic
  10. daśa-ānanaḥthe ten-headed Rāvaṇa
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

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 do I react when someone else’s strength challenges my opinion of myself?

Practice

If someone outperforms you today, pause before reacting and notice whether pride is involved.

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 9.15's connections

Live this todayPride Cannot Tolerate Another’s PowerThis 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 9.15.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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