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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 18: King Yayāti Regains His Youth
9.18.159.18.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.16

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आत्मवृत्तमविज्ञाय कत्थसे बहु भिक्षुकि ।

किं न प्रतीक्षसेऽस्माकं गृहान् बलिभुजो यथा ॥ १६ ॥

ātma-vṛttam avijñāya

katthase bahu bhikṣuki

kiṁ na pratīkṣase ’smākaṁ

gṛhān balibhujo yathā

Translation

You beggar, since you don’t understand your position, why should you unnecessarily talk so much? Don’t all of you wait at our house, depending on us for your livelihood like crows?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Do Not Turn Dependence Into an Insult

  1. 1

    The purport explains that crows depend on remnants of food thrown away by householders.

  2. 2

    Because a brāhmaṇa depends on his disciples, Śarmiṣṭhā compared Devayānī's family to crowlike beggars.

  3. 3

    Having been heavily rebuked, Śarmiṣṭhā answered with contempt. The exchange shows how provocation can lead to a verbal quarrel.

Key points from the purport
  • Crows have no independent life; they fully depend on the remnants of foodstuffs thrown by householders into the garbage tank.
  • Therefore, because a brāhmaṇa depends on his disciples, when Śarmiṣṭhā was heavily rebuked by Devayānī she charged Devayānī with belonging to a family of crowlike beggars.
  • As we see from this incident, this has been their nature for a long, long time.

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

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:

King Yayāti married Śarmiṣṭhā also. The history of this marriage is as follows.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ātma-vṛttamone’s own position
  2. avijñāyawithout understanding
  3. katthaseyou are talking madly
  4. bahuso much
  5. bhikṣukibeggar
  6. kimwhether
  7. nanot
  8. pratīkṣaseyou wait
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “householders”

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 ever use someone's dependence on others as a reason to belittle them?

Practice

Avoid one belittling remark today, especially about someone who needs support.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDo Not Turn Dependence Into an InsultThis 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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