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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 18: King Yayāti Regains His Youth
9.18.509.19.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.18.51

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि मन:षष्ठैर्मन:सुखम् ।

विदधानोऽपि नातृप्यत् सार्वभौम: कदिन्द्रियै: ॥ ५१ ॥

evaṁ varṣa-sahasrāṇi

manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhair manaḥ-sukham

vidadhāno ’pi nātṛpyat

sārva-bhaumaḥ kad-indriyaiḥ

Translation

Although Mahārāja Yayāti was the king of the entire world and he engaged his mind and five senses in enjoying material possessions for one thousand years, he was unable to be satisfied.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purified Senses Find Their Purpose in Bhakti

  1. 1

    Although Yayāti ruled the entire world and enjoyed material possessions for one thousand years, he remained unsatisfied. Unpurified senses cannot bring happiness, even through thousands of years of enjoyment.

  2. 2

    The mind and senses become purified through engagement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Identifying oneself as a servant of the Lord, rather than with the material world, immediately purifies the senses.

  3. 3

    Engaging the purified senses in the service of the Lord is called bhakti. Devotional service, rather than continued sense enjoyment, is the goal.

Key points from the purport
  • The kad-indriya, or unpurified senses, can be purified if one engages the senses and the mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • When one identifies himself with the material world, his senses are impure.
  • But when one achieves spiritual realization and identifies himself as a servant of the Lord, his senses are purified immediately.

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. evamin this way
  2. varṣa-sahasrāṇifor one thousand years
  3. manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhaiḥby the mind and five knowledge-acquiring senses
  4. manaḥ-sukhamtemporary happiness created by the mind
  5. vidadhānaḥexecuting
  6. apialthough
  7. na atṛpyatcould not be satisfied
  8. sārva-bhaumaḥalthough he was the king of the entire world
  9. kat-indriyaiḥbecause of possessing impure senses
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: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti”

  • 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

How can I use my senses today as a servant of the Lord rather than merely seeking enjoyment?

Practice

Read this verse aloud attentively, engaging your voice, hearing and mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurified Senses Find Their Purpose in BhaktiThis 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 9.18.51? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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