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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

9.18.3 9.18.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.4

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

चतसृष्वादिशद् दिक्षु भ्रातृन् भ्राता यवीयस: ।

कृतदारो जुगोपोर्वीं काव्यस्य वृषपर्वण: ॥ ४ ॥

catasṛṣv ādiśad dikṣu

bhrātṝn bhrātā yavīyasaḥ

kṛta-dāro jugoporvīṁ

kāvyasya vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ

Translation

King Yayāti had four younger brothers, whom he allowed to rule the four directions. Yayāti himself married Devayānī, the daughter of Śukrācārya, and Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā, and ruled the entire earth.

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 Shares Rule With His Brothers

1
Yayāti allowed his four younger brothers to rule the four directions.
2
He married Devayānī, the daughter of Śukrācārya, and Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā.
3
While his brothers ruled the four directions, Yayāti himself ruled the entire earth.

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:

By providence, Yayāti married the daughter of Śukrācārya. Śukrācārya was a brāhmaṇa and Yayāti a kṣatriya, but Yayāti married her nonetheless.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

catasṛṣuover the four
ādiśatallowed to rule
dikṣudirections
bhrātṝnfour brothers
bhrātāYayāti
yavīyasaḥyoung
kṛta-dāraḥmarried
jugoparuled

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

What do you notice about how Yayāti involved his brothers in ruling?

Practice

Write a brief note pairing Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā with their respective fathers.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayYayāti Shares Rule With His BrothersThis 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 9.18.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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