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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
  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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 18: King Yayāti Regains His Youth
9.18.429.18.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.43

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Pūrusince 9.18.43inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीपूरुरुवाच

को नु लोके मनुष्येन्द्र पितुरात्मकृत: पुमान् ।

प्रतिकर्तुं क्षमो यस्य प्रसादाद् विन्दते परम् ॥ ४३ ॥

śrī-pūrur uvāca

ko nu loke manuṣyendra

pitur ātma-kṛtaḥ pumān

pratikartuṁ kṣamo yasya

prasādād vindate param

Translation

Pūru replied: O Your Majesty, who in this world can repay his debt to his father? By the mercy of one’s father, one gets the human form of life, which can enable one to become an associate of the Supreme Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Human Life Offers the Greatest Benediction

  1. 1

    Pūru recognized a debt to his father for the human body. Its higher consciousness gives one the opportunity to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness and return home, back to Godhead.

  2. 2

    Parents give their child the greatest benediction by teaching the child to become a devotee. Devotional life frees one from repeated birth and death.

  3. 3

    A father who trains his child in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is most benevolent. By the benediction of Kṛṣṇa and guru, one can conquer material nature and return to the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • But in the human form of life the father and mother can award their son the greatest benediction by teaching him to become a devotee.
  • Therefore the father who trains his child in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the most benevolent father in this world.
  • Everyone gets a father and mother, but if one gets the benediction of Kṛṣṇa and guru, he can conquer material nature and return home, back to Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-pūruḥ uvācaPūru said
  2. kaḥwhat
  3. nuindeed
  4. lokein this world
  5. manuṣya-indraO Your Majesty, best of human beings
  6. pituḥthe father
  7. ātma-kṛtaḥwho has given this body
  8. pumāna person
3

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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “father”, “child”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

How am I using the opportunity of human life to become a devotee?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today learning or sharing one teaching that helps you cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHuman Life Offers the Greatest BenedictionThis 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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