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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class
9.16.349.16.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.16.35

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.16.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ज्येष्ठं मन्त्रद‍ृशं चक्रुस्त्वामन्वञ्चो वयं स्म हि ।

विश्वामित्र: सुतानाह वीरवन्तो भविष्यथ ।

ये मानं मेऽनुगृह्णन्तो वीरवन्तमकर्त माम् ॥ ३५ ॥

jyeṣṭhaṁ mantra-dṛśaṁ cakrus

tvām anvañco vayaṁ sma hi

viśvāmitraḥ sutān āha

vīravanto bhaviṣyatha

ye mānaṁ me ’nugṛhṇanto

vīravantam akarta mām

Translation

Thus the younger Madhucchandās accepted Śunaḥśepha as their eldest brother and told him, “We shall follow your orders.” Viśvāmitra then said to his obedient sons, “Because you have accepted Śunaḥśepha as your eldest brother, I am very satisfied. By accepting my order, you have made me a father of worthy sons, and therefore I bless all of you to become the fathers of sons also.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Obedient Sons Receive Their Father’s Blessing

  1. 1

    The younger Madhucchandās accepted Śunaḥśepha as their eldest brother and promised to follow his orders.

  2. 2

    Viśvāmitra was very satisfied with their acceptance of his order. He said they had made him a father of worthy sons.

  3. 3

    He blessed the obedient sons to become fathers of sons themselves. The purport explains that otherwise they too would have been cursed to become sonless mlecchas.

Key points from the purport
  • Of the one hundred sons, half disobeyed Viśvāmitra by not accepting Śunaḥśepha as their eldest brother, but the other half accepted his order.
  • Therefore the father blessed the obedient sons to become the fathers of sons.
  • Otherwise they too would have been cursed to be sonless mlecchas.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

Viśvāmitra’s fifty-first son, along with his younger brothers, then accepted Śunaḥśepha as their eldest brother, and their father, Viśvāmitra, being satisfied, blessed them. Thus Devarāta was accepted in the dynasty of Kauśika, and consequently there are different divisions of that dynasty.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jyeṣṭhamthe eldest
  2. mantra-dṛśama seer of mantras
  3. cakruḥthey accepted
  4. tvāmyou
  5. anvañcaḥhave agreed to follow
  6. vayamwe
  7. smaindeed
  8. hicertainly
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 9.16

    In this verse: “bless”, “blessed”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.16

    In this verse: “father”

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

Do I support my words of acceptance with a genuine willingness to follow through?

Practice

Carry out one family responsibility today that you have already agreed to accept.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayObedient Sons Receive Their Father’s BlessingThis 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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