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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.

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Canto 9 · Chapter 18: King Yayāti Regains His Youth

9.18.37 9.18.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.38

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

इति लब्धव्यवस्थान: पुत्रं ज्येष्ठमवोचत ।

यदो तात प्रतीच्छेमां जरां देहि निजं वय: ॥ ३८ ॥

iti labdha-vyavasthānaḥ

putraṁ jyeṣṭham avocata

yado tāta pratīcchemāṁ

jarāṁ dehi nijaṁ vayaḥ

Translation

When Yayāti received this benediction from Śukrācārya, he requested his eldest son: My dear son Yadu, please give me your youth in exchange for my 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.

Yayāti Asks Yadu for His Youth

1
Śukrācārya’s benediction gave Yayāti the opportunity to exchange his old age.
2
Yayāti approached his eldest son, Yadu, and addressed him affectionately.
3
He asked Yadu to give him his youth and accept his 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:

Śukrācārya again became angry and cursed Mahārāja Yayāti to become old, but when Yayāti begged Śukrācārya to be merciful to him, Śukrācārya gave him the benediction that he could transfer his old age and invalidity to some young man. Yayāti exchanged his old age for the youth of his youngest son, Pūru, and thus he was able to enjoy with young girls.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.18

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

itithus
labdha-vyavasthānaḥgetting the opportunity to exchange his old age
putramunto his son
jyeṣṭhamthe eldest
avocatahe requested
yadoO Yadu
tātayou are my beloved son
pratīcchakindly exchange

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

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 I ask someone for help, do I consider what accepting my request would cost them?

Practice

Before making one request today, name the burden it would place on the other person.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayYayāti Asks Yadu for His YouthThis 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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