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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 18: King Yayāti Regains His Youth

9.18.18 9.18.20-21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.19

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दत्त्वा स्वमुत्तरं वासस्तस्यै राजा विवाससे ।

गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिमुज्जहार दयापर: ॥ १९ ॥

dattvā svam uttaraṁ vāsas

tasyai rājā vivāsase

gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇim

ujjahāra dayā-paraḥ

Translation

Seeing Devayānī naked in the well, King Yayāti immediately gave her his upper cloth. Being very kind to her, he caught her hand with his own and lifted her out.

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.

Kindness Responds to Immediate Need

1
King Yayāti saw that Devayānī was naked in the well and immediately gave her his upper cloth.
2
His kindness included sharing something of his own to cover her.
3
He then took her hand and lifted her out of the well. His compassion became practical help.

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:

By chance, King Yayāti came to that well to drink water, and he found Devayānī and rescued her. Thus Devayānī accepted Mahārāja Yayāti as her husband.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.18

2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

dattvāgiving
svamhis own
uttaramupper
vāsaḥcloth
tasyaiunto her (Devayānī)
rājāthe King
vivāsasebecause she was naked
gṛhītvācatching

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
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 9.18
In this verse: “compassion”, “kindness”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.18
In this verse: “king”

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

What immediate need can I meet with something I already have?

Practice

Offer one small, practical kindness today while respecting the recipient's dignity.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKindness Responds to Immediate NeedThis 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 9.18.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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