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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
9.15.2-39.15.5-6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.15.4

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.15.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

जह्नोस्तु पुरुस्तस्याथ बलाकश्चात्मजोऽजक: ।

तत: कुश: कुशस्यापि कुशाम्बुस्तनयो वसु: ।

कुशनाभश्च चत्वारो गाधिरासीत् कुशाम्बुज: ॥ ४ ॥

jahnos tu purus tasyātha

balākaś cātmajo ’jakaḥ

tataḥ kuśaḥ kuśasyāpi

kuśāmbus tanayo vasuḥ

kuśanābhaś ca catvāro

gādhir āsīt kuśāmbujaḥ

Translation

The son of Jahnu was Puru, the son of Puru was Balāka, the son of Balāka was Ajaka, and the son of Ajaka was Kuśa. Kuśa had four sons, named Kuśāmbu, Tanaya, Vasu and Kuśanābha. The son of Kuśāmbu was Gādhi.

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.

Tracing the Family Line to Gādhi

  1. 1

    Jahnu’s son was Puru, whose son was Balāka. Balāka’s son was Ajaka, and Ajaka’s son was Kuśa.

  2. 2

    Kuśa had four sons: Kuśāmbu, Tanaya, Vasu and Kuśanābha.

  3. 3

    Gādhi was the son of Kuśāmbu.

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:

The sons of Kuśa were Kuśāmbu, Tanaya, Vasu and Kuśanābha. From Kuśāmbu came Gādhi, who had a daughter named Satyavatī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jahnoḥof Jahnu
  2. tuindeed
  3. puruḥa son named Puru
  4. tasyaof Puru
  5. athathereafter
  6. balākaḥa son named Balāka
  7. caand
  8. ātmajaḥBalāka’s son
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 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

Can I trace how Gādhi descends from Kuśa?

Practice

Draw Kuśa’s four sons as branches, and add Gādhi beneath Kuśāmbu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTracing the Family Line to GādhiThis 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 9.15.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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