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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 18: King Yayāti Regains His Youth
9.18.109.18.12-14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.11

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.6-7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अहो निरीक्ष्यतामस्या दास्या: कर्म ह्यसाम्प्रतम् ।

अस्मद्धार्यं धृतवती शुनीव हविरध्वरे ॥ ११ ॥

aho nirīkṣyatām asyā

dāsyāḥ karma hy asāmpratam

asmad-dhāryaṁ dhṛtavatī

śunīva havir adhvare

Translation

Oh, just see the activities of this servant-maid Śarmiṣṭhā! Disregarding all etiquette, she has put on my dress, just like a dog snatching clarified butter meant for use in a sacrifice.

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.

Devayānī Expresses Her Anger Through Insults

  1. 1

    Devayānī calls Śarmiṣṭhā a servant-maid and draws attention to her conduct.

  2. 2

    She accuses Śarmiṣṭhā of disregarding etiquette by wearing her dress.

  3. 3

    She compares Śarmiṣṭhā's action to a dog snatching clarified butter intended for a sacrifice.

How it feels

Insatiable desire → Renunciation. Exhausted enjoyment generates insight.

Chapters 18–19 of Canto 9: Yayāti's craving and liberation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 18: King Yayāti Regains His Youth

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śukrācārya’s daughter, named Devayānī, had a girlfriend named Śarmiṣṭhā, who was the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā. King Yayāti married Śarmiṣṭhā also.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahoalas
  2. nirīkṣyatāmjust see
  3. asyāḥof her (Śarmiṣṭhā)
  4. dāsyāḥjust like our servant
  5. karmaactivities
  6. hiindeed
  7. asāmpratamwithout any etiquette
  8. asmat-dhāryamthe garment meant for me
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

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 you feel wronged, do your words address the action or insult the person?

Practice

If you need to express displeasure today, describe the action without using a degrading comparison.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevayānī Expresses Her Anger Through InsultsThis 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 9.18.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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