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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 17: The Dynasties of the Sons of Purūravā
9.17.1-39.17.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.17.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.17.1-3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

काश्यस्य काशिस्तत्पुत्रो राष्ट्रो दीर्घतम:पिता ।

धन्वन्तरिर्दीर्घतमस आयुर्वेदप्रवर्तक: ।

यज्ञभुग् वासुदेवांश: स्मृतमात्रार्तिनाशन: ॥ ४ ॥

kāśyasya kāśis tat-putro

rāṣṭro dīrghatamaḥ-pitā

dhanvantarir dīrghatamasa

āyur-veda-pravartakaḥ

yajña-bhug vāsudevāṁśaḥ

smṛta-mātrārti-nāśanaḥ

Translation

The son of Kāśya was Kāśi, and his son was Rāṣṭra, the father of Dīrghatama. Dīrghatama had a son named Dhanvantari, who was the inaugurator of the medical science and an incarnation of Lord Vāsudeva, the enjoyer of the results of sacrifices. One who remembers the name of Dhanvantari can be released from all disease.

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.

Remembering Dhanvantari, an Incarnation of Lord Vāsudeva

  1. 1

    Kāśya’s son was Kāśi, whose son was Rāṣṭra. Rāṣṭra was the father of Dīrghatama, and Dīrghatama’s son was Dhanvantari.

  2. 2

    Dhanvantari inaugurated medical science. He was an incarnation of Lord Vāsudeva, the enjoyer of the results of sacrifices.

  3. 3

    The translation states that one who remembers the name of Dhanvantari can be released from all disease.

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 17: The Dynasties of the Sons of Purūravā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

From Kāśi came the sons and grandsons known as Rāṣṭra, Dīrghatama and then Dhanvantari, who was the inaugurator of medical science and was a śaktyāveśa incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. The descendants of Dhanvantari were Ketumān, Bhīmaratha, Divodāsa and Dyumān, who was also known as Pratardana, Śatrujit, Vatsa, Ṛtadhvaja and Kuvalayāśva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kāśyasyaof Kāśya
  2. kāśiḥKāśi
  3. tat-putraḥhis son
  4. rāṣṭraḥRāṣṭra
  5. dīrghatamaḥ-pitāhe became the father of Dīrghatama
  6. dhanvantariḥDhanvantari
  7. dīrghatamasaḥfrom Dīrghatama
  8. āyuḥ-veda-pravartakaḥthe inaugurator of medical science, Āyur Veda
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.17

    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

How does knowing Dhanvantari’s relationship with Lord Vāsudeva deepen your remembrance of him?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to remember Dhanvantari’s name and his identity as an incarnation of Lord Vāsudeva.

Live this todayRemembering Dhanvantari, an Incarnation of Lord VāsudevaThis 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 9.17.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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