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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

9.16.4 9.16.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.16.5

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

व्यभिचारं मुनिर्ज्ञात्वा पत्‍न्या: प्रकुपितोऽब्रवीत् ।

घ्नतैनां पुत्रका: पापामित्युक्तास्ते न चक्रिरे ॥ ५ ॥

vyabhicāraṁ munir jñātvā

patnyāḥ prakupito ’bravīt

ghnataināṁ putrakāḥ pāpām

ity uktās te na cakrire

Translation

The great sage Jamadagni understood the adultery in the mind of his wife. Therefore he was very angry and told his sons, “My dear sons, kill this sinful woman!” But the sons did not carry out his order.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Anger and an Unfulfilled Order

1
Jamadagni understood the adultery in his wife’s mind.
2
He became very angry and ordered his sons to kill her.
3
The sons did not carry out his order.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.16

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

vyabhicāramadultery
muniḥthe great sage Jamadagni
jñātvācould understand
patnyāḥof his wife
prakupitaḥhe became angry
abravīthe said
ghnatakill
enāmher

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
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 9.16
In this verse: “sinful”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What do I notice about the relationship between Jamadagni’s anger and his words?

Practice

If anger arises today, pause before speaking and notice what it is prompting you to say.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAnger and an Unfulfilled OrderThis 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 9.16.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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