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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

9.18.35 9.18.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.36

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

शुक्रस्तमाह कुपित: स्त्रीकामानृतपूरुष ।

त्वां जरा विशतां मन्द विरूपकरणी नृणाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

śukras tam āha kupitaḥ

strī-kāmānṛta-pūruṣa

tvāṁ jarā viśatāṁ manda

virūpa-karaṇī nṛṇām

Translation

Śukrācārya was extremely angry. “You untruthful fool, lusting after women! You have done a great wrong,” he said. “I therefore curse you to be attacked and disfigured by old age and invalidity.”

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.

Lust and Untruthfulness Bring Consequences

1
Śukrācārya became extremely angry and called Yayāti untruthful and lustful.
2
He told Yayāti that he had done a great wrong.
3
Śukrācārya cursed him to be attacked and disfigured by old age and invalidity.

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:

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.18

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śukraḥŚukrācārya
tamunto him (King Yayāti)
āhasaid
kupitaḥbeing very angry at him
strī-kāmaO you who have lusty desires for women
anṛta-pūruṣaO untruthful person
tvāmunto you
jarāold age, invalidity

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: “lusting”, “lustful”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When might desire tempt me to be untruthful?

Practice

In one conversation today, take care to speak truthfully rather than shape your words to satisfy a selfish desire.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLust and Untruthfulness Bring ConsequencesThis 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 9.18.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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