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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 18: King Yayāti Regains His Youth
9.18.309.18.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.31

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विलोक्यौशनसीं राजञ्छर्मिष्ठा सुप्रजां क्‍वचित् ।

तमेव वव्रे रहसि सख्या: पतिमृतौ सती ॥ ३१ ॥

vilokyauśanasīṁ rājañ

charmiṣṭhā suprajāṁ kvacit

tam eva vavre rahasi

sakhyāḥ patim ṛtau satī

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, upon seeing Devayānī with a nice son, Śarmiṣṭhā once approached King Yayāti at the appropriate time for conception. In a secluded place, she requested the King, the husband of her friend Devayānī, to enable her to have a son also.

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.

Śarmiṣṭhā Requests a Son

  1. 1

    Śarmiṣṭhā saw that Devayānī had a nice son.

  2. 2

    She approached King Yayāti at the appropriate time for conception.

  3. 3

    In a secluded place, she asked her friend’s husband to enable her to have a son also.

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:

Therefore, at the proper time for conception, she also requested Mahārāja Yayāti for sex. When Śarmiṣṭhā became pregnant also, Devayānī was very envious.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vilokyaby seeing
  2. auśanasīmDevayānī, the daughter of Śukrācārya
  3. rājanO King Parīkṣit
  4. śarmiṣṭhāthe daughter of Vṛṣaparvā
  5. su-prajāmpossessing nice children
  6. kvacitat some time
  7. tamhim (King Yayāti)
  8. evaindeed
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “friend”, “friend’s”

  • 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 desires arise in me when I see what someone else has?

Practice

Notice one desire prompted by another person’s circumstances and write it down before acting on it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayŚarmiṣṭhā Requests a SonThis 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 9.18.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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