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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
9.18.349.18.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.35

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

प्रियामनुगत: कामी वचोभिरुपमन्त्रयन् ।

न प्रसादयितुं शेके पादसंवाहनादिभि: ॥ ३५ ॥

priyām anugataḥ kāmī

vacobhir upamantrayan

na prasādayituṁ śeke

pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ

Translation

King Yayāti, who was very lusty, followed his wife, caught her and tried to appease her by speaking pleasing words and massaging her feet, but he could not satisfy her by any means.

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.

Pleasing Words Cannot Always Appease

  1. 1

    King Yayāti, who was very lusty, followed his wife and tried to appease her.

  2. 2

    He spoke pleasing words and even massaged her feet.

  3. 3

    Despite these efforts, he could not satisfy her by any means.

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:

Upon hearing of this incident, Śukrācārya was very angry and wanted to chastise Vṛṣaparvā, Śarmiṣṭhā’s father. Vṛṣaparvā, however, satisfied Śukrācārya by offering Śarmiṣṭhā as Devayānī’s maidservant.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. priyāmhis beloved wife
  2. anugataḥfollowing
  3. kāmīvery, very lusty
  4. vacobhiḥby great words
  5. upamantrayanappeasing
  6. nanot
  7. prasādayitumto appease
  8. śekewas able
  9. pāda-saṁvāhana-ādibhiḥeven by massaging her feet
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lusty”

  • 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 can I learn from Yayāti’s inability to satisfy his wife with pleasing words?

Practice

Before trying to appease someone today, pause and consider whether your words will truly address their concern.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPleasing Words Cannot Always AppeaseThis 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 9.18.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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