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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

9.18.29 9.18.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.30

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नाहुषाय सुतां दत्त्वा सह शर्मिष्ठयोशना ।

तमाह राजञ्छर्मिष्ठामाधास्तल्पे न कर्हिचित् ॥ ३० ॥

nāhuṣāya sutāṁ dattvā

saha śarmiṣṭhayośanā

tam āha rājañ charmiṣṭhām

ādhās talpe na karhicit

Translation

When Śukrācārya gave Devayānī in marriage to Yayāti, he had Śarmiṣṭhā go with her, but he warned the King, “My dear King, never allow this girl Śarmiṣṭhā to lie with you in your bed.”

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Clear Warning Accompanies Marriage

1
Śukrācārya gave Devayānī in marriage to Yayāti.
2
He arranged for Śarmiṣṭhā to accompany Devayānī.
3
He explicitly warned Yayāti never to allow Śarmiṣṭhā to share his bed.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.18

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nāhuṣāyaunto King Yayāti, the descendant of Nahuṣa
sutāmhis daughter
dattvāgiving in marriage
sahawith
śarmiṣṭhayāŚarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā and servant of Devayānī
uśanāŚukrācārya
tamunto him (King Yayāti)
āhasaid

Key ideas in this verse

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

Manvantara · The change of Manus
What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10
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.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I give clear instructions the attention they deserve?

Practice

Recall one important boundary you have been asked to respect, and make a deliberate effort to honor it today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Clear Warning Accompanies MarriageThis 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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