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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
9.18.19.18.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राज्यं नैच्छद् यति: पित्रा दत्तं तत्परिणामवित् ।

यत्र प्रविष्ट: पुरुष आत्मानं नावबुध्यते ॥ २ ॥

rājyaṁ naicchad yatiḥ pitrā

dattaṁ tat-pariṇāmavit

yatra praviṣṭaḥ puruṣa

ātmānaṁ nāvabudhyate

Translation

When one enters the post of king or head of the government, one cannot understand the meaning of self-realization. Knowing this, Yati, the eldest son of Nahuṣa, did not accept the power to rule, although it was offered by his father.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Put Self-Realization Before Material Power

  1. 1

    Yati declined the kingdom offered by his father because he knew that royal power would hinder self-realization.

  2. 2

    Self-realization is the prime objective of human civilization. Spiritually advanced people accept only the bare necessities for spiritual advancement, rather than seeking material opulence.

  3. 3

    Regardless of one's material qualities, regularly hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a self-realized soul frees one from material bondage. Mahārāja Parīkṣit attained perfection through such hearing despite his political involvement.

Key points from the purport
  • Self-realization is the prime objective of human civilization, and it is regarded seriously by those who are situated in the mode of goodness and have developed the brahminical qualities.
  • Indeed, they accept only the bare necessities for a life of spiritual advancement in self-realization.
  • Regardless of whether one is in the mode of passion, ignorance or goodness, if one regularly hears Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the self-realized soul, one is freed from the bondage of material involvement.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 9.18.2 quotesSB 10.14.3

ye prāyaśo ’jita jito ’py asi tais tri-lokyām. Regardless of whether one is in the mode of passion, ignorance or goodness, if one regularly hears Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the self-realized soul, one is freed from the bondage of material involvement.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

When Nahuṣa, who had six sons, was cursed to become a python, his eldest son, Yati, took sannyāsa, and therefore the next son, Yayāti, was enthroned as king. By providence, Yayāti married the daughter of Śukrācārya.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājyamthe kingdom
  2. na aicchatdid not accept
  3. yatiḥthe eldest son, Yati
  4. pitrāby his father
  5. dattamoffered
  6. tat-pariṇāma-vitknowing the result of becoming powerful as a king
  7. yatrawherein
  8. praviṣṭaḥhaving entered
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “king”, “government”, “kingdom”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.18

    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

What pursuit of status or comfort competes with your time for spiritual hearing?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and give it your full attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 10.14.3

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.18's connections

Live this todayPut Self-Realization Before Material PowerThis 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 9.18.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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