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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
9.15.219.15.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.15.22

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

गृहीतो लीलया स्त्रीणां समक्षं कृतकिल्बिष: ।

माहिष्मत्यां सन्निरुद्धो मुक्तो येन कपिर्यथा ॥ २२ ॥

gṛhīto līlayā strīṇāṁ

samakṣaṁ kṛta-kilbiṣaḥ

māhiṣmatyāṁ sanniruddho

mukto yena kapir yathā

Translation

When Rāvaṇa attempted to insult Kārtavīryārjuna in the presence of the women and thus offended him, Kārtavīryārjuna easily arrested Rāvaṇa and put him in custody in the city of Māhiṣmatī, just as one captures a monkey, and then released him neglectfully.

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.

Insult Leads to Humiliation

  1. 1

    Rāvaṇa attempted to insult Kārtavīryārjuna in the presence of the women and thereby offended him.

  2. 2

    Kārtavīryārjuna easily arrested Rāvaṇa and held him in Māhiṣmatī. The translation compares this to capturing a monkey.

  3. 3

    Kārtavīryārjuna then released Rāvaṇa neglectfully. Rāvaṇa’s attempt to insult him ended in his own humiliation.

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:

From Kuśāmbu came Gādhi, who had a daughter named Satyavatī. Satyavatī married Ṛcīka Muni after the muni contributed a substantial dowry, and from the womb of Satyavatī by Ṛcīka Muni, Jamadagni was born.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gṛhītaḥwas arrested by force
  2. līlayāvery easily
  3. strīṇāmof the women
  4. samakṣamin the presence
  5. kṛta-kilbiṣaḥthus becoming an offender
  6. māhiṣmatyāmin the city known as Māhiṣmatī
  7. sanniruddhaḥwas arrested
  8. muktaḥreleased
  9. yenaby whom (Kārtavīryārjuna)
  10. kapiḥ yathāexactly as done to a monkey
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: “offended”

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

When I feel challenged, am I tempted to insult someone?

Practice

Refrain from one cutting remark today, especially in front of others.

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 todayInsult Leads to HumiliationThis 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 9.15.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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