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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 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class
9.16.129.16.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.16.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.16.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

रेणुका दु:खशोकार्ता निघ्नन्त्यात्मानमात्मना ।

राम रामेति तातेति विचुक्रोशोच्चकै: सती ॥ १३ ॥

reṇukā duḥkha-śokārtā

nighnanty ātmānam ātmanā

rāma rāmeti tāteti

vicukrośoccakaiḥ satī

Translation

Lamenting in grief for the death of her husband, the most chaste Reṇukā struck her own body with her hands and cried very loudly, “O Rāma, my dear son Rāma!”

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.

Reṇukā Calls to Her Son in Grief

  1. 1

    The most chaste Reṇukā lamented deeply over her husband’s death.

  2. 2

    In her grief, she struck her own body with her hands.

  3. 3

    She cried very loudly, “O Rāma, my dear son Rāma!” Her lamentation became a call to her son.

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 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The sons of Kārtavīryārjuna, however, remembering the death of their father, wanted to take revenge against Lord Paraśurāma, and therefore when Paraśurāma was absent from the āśrama, they killed Jamadagni, who was meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. reṇukāReṇukā, the wife of Jamadagni
  2. duḥkha-śoka-artābeing very much aggrieved in lamentation (over her husband’s death)
  3. nighnantīstriking
  4. ātmānamher own body
  5. ātmanāby herself
  6. rāmaO Paraśurāma
  7. rāmaO Paraśurāma
  8. itithus
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 9.16

    In this verse: “lamenting”, “cried”, “lamented”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.16

    In this verse: “death”

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 can I become more attentive to someone expressing deep grief?

Practice

Offer a gentle check-in to someone who is grieving or distressed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReṇukā Calls to Her Son in GriefThis 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.

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