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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
9.16.19.16.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.16.2

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

कदाचिद् रेणुका याता गङ्गायां पद्ममालिनम् ।

गन्धर्वराजं क्रीडन्तमप्सरोभिरपश्यत ॥ २ ॥

kadācid reṇukā yātā

gaṅgāyāṁ padma-mālinam

gandharva-rājaṁ krīḍantam

apsarobhir apaśyata

Translation

Once when Reṇukā, the wife of Jamadagni, went to the bank of the Ganges to get water, she saw the King of the Gandharvas, decorated with a garland of lotuses and sporting in the Ganges with celestial women [Apsarās].

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.

An Encounter While Fetching Water

  1. 1

    Reṇukā, the wife of Jamadagni, went to the bank of the Ganges to get water.

  2. 2

    There she saw the King of the Gandharvas, decorated with a garland of lotuses.

  3. 3

    He was sporting in the Ganges with celestial women called Apsarās.

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:

When Jamadagni’s wife, Reṇukā, went to bring water from the Ganges and saw the King of the Gandharvas enjoying the company of Apsarās, she was captivated, and she slightly desired to associate with him. Because of this sinful desire, she was punished by her husband.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kadācitonce upon a time
  2. reṇukāJamadagni’s wife, the mother of Lord Paraśurāma
  3. yātāwent
  4. gaṅgāyāmto the bank of the river Ganges
  5. padma-mālinamdecorated with a garland of lotus flowers
  6. gandharva-rājamthe King of the Gandharvas
  7. krīḍantamsporting
  8. apsarobhiḥwith the Apsarās (heavenly society girls)
  9. apaśyatashe saw
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.16

    In this verse: “king”

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

What catches my attention while I am carrying out an ordinary duty?

Practice

During one everyday task today, notice what draws your attention away from its purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAn Encounter While Fetching WaterThis 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 9.16.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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