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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
9.16.29.16.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.16.3

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.16.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विलोकयन्ती क्रीडन्तमुदकार्थं नदीं गता ।

होमवेलां न सस्मार किञ्चिच्चित्ररथस्पृहा ॥ ३ ॥

vilokayantī krīḍantam

udakārthaṁ nadīṁ gatā

homa-velāṁ na sasmāra

kiñcic citraratha-spṛhā

Translation

She had gone to bring water from the Ganges, but when she saw Citraratha, the King of the Gandharvas, sporting with the celestial girls, she was somewhat inclined toward him and failed to remember that the time for the fire sacrifice was passing.

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.

Attraction Can Make Us Forget Duty

  1. 1

    Reṇukā had gone to the Ganges to bring water.

  2. 2

    Seeing Citraratha sporting with the celestial girls, she became somewhat inclined toward him.

  3. 3

    She failed to remember that the time for the fire sacrifice was passing.

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. vilokayantīwhile looking at
  2. krīḍantamthe King of the Gandharvas, engaged in such activities
  3. udaka-arthamfor getting some water
  4. nadīmto the river
  5. gatāas she went
  6. homa-velāmthe time for performing the homa, fire sacrifice
  7. na sasmāradid not remember
  8. kiñcitvery little
  9. citrarathaof the King of the Gandharvas, known as Citraratha
  10. spṛhādid desire the company
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

  • 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

When has an attraction made me forget a time-sensitive responsibility?

Practice

Set a reminder for one important duty today, and put aside a distraction until it is completed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttraction Can Make Us Forget DutyThis 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 9.16.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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