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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
9.18.229.18.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.23

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ययातिरनभिप्रेतं दैवोपहृतमात्मन: ।

मनस्तु तद्गतं बुद्ध्वा प्रतिजग्राह तद्वच: ॥ २३ ॥

yayātir anabhipretaṁ

daivopahṛtam ātmanaḥ

manas tu tad-gataṁ buddhvā

pratijagrāha tad-vacaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Because such a marriage is not sanctioned by regular scriptures, King Yayāti did not like it, but because it was arranged by providence and because he was attracted by Devayānī’s beauty, he accepted her request.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Marriage Requires More Than Attraction

  1. 1

    Yayāti initially disliked a marriage not sanctioned by regular scriptures. Yet he accepted Devayānī's request because of providence and his attraction to her beauty.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that the Vedic system carefully examined compatibility through horoscopes and family considerations. Wealth or beauty alone did not determine a match.

  3. 3

    Its central teaching is that compatibility supports a happy marriage, whereas inequality can bring unhappiness. Śrīla Prabhupāda stresses careful consideration rather than marriage based merely on mutual liking.

Key points from the purport
  • If according to astrological calculations the boy and girl were compatible in every respect, the match was called yoṭaka and the marriage would be accepted.
  • Regardless of the affluence of the boy or the personal beauty of the girl, without this astrological compatibility the marriage would not take place.
  • If according to astrological calculations there was conflict between a godly and a demoniac nature, the marriage would not take place.

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 9.18.23 quotesSB 12.2.3

Dāmpatye ’bhirucir hetuḥ. If the boy and girl simply agree to marry, the marriage takes place.

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:

The history of this marriage is as follows. Once Śarmiṣṭhā was sporting in the water with thousands of her girlfriends, and Devayānī was also there.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yayātiḥKing Yayāti
  2. anabhipretamnot liked
  3. daiva-upahṛtambrought about by providential arrangements
  4. ātmanaḥhis personal interest
  5. manaḥmind
  6. tuhowever
  7. tat-gatambeing attracted to her
  8. buddhvāby such intelligence
  9. pratijagrāhaaccepted
  10. tat-vacaḥthe words of Devayānī
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”

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 considering a lasting relationship, do I look beyond attraction to genuine compatibility?

Practice

Write down one aspect of compatibility, beyond wealth or beauty, that deserves careful consideration in marriage.

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 12.2.3

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

Live this todayMarriage Requires More Than AttractionThis 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 9.18.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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