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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
9.18.59.18.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.18.6-7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.18.6-7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

एकदा दानवेन्द्रस्य शर्मिष्ठा नाम कन्यका ।

सखीसहस्रसंयुक्ता गुरुपुत्र्या च भामिनी ॥ ६ ॥

देवयान्या पुरोद्याने पुष्पितद्रुमसङ्कुले ।

व्यचरत्कलगीतालिनलिनीपुलिनेऽबला ॥ ७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ekadā dānavendrasya

śarmiṣṭhā nāma kanyakā

sakhī-sahasra-saṁyuktā

guru-putryā ca bhāminī

devayānyā purodyāne

puṣpita-druma-saṅkule

vyacarat kala-gītāli-

nalinī-puline ’balā

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: One day Vṛṣaparvā’s daughter Śarmiṣṭhā, who was innocent but angry by nature, was walking with Devayānī, the daughter of Śukrācārya, and with thousands of friends, in the palace garden. The garden was full of lotuses and trees of flowers and fruits and was inhabited by sweetly singing birds and bumblebees.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Innocence Can Coexist With an Angry Nature

  1. 1

    Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā, is described as innocent but angry by nature.

  2. 2

    She walked in the palace garden with Devayānī, the daughter of Śukrācārya, and thousands of friends.

  3. 3

    The garden held lotuses and trees bearing flowers and fruits, with sweetly singing birds and bumblebees.

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’s daughter, named Devayānī, had a girlfriend named Śarmiṣṭhā, who was the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā. King Yayāti married Śarmiṣṭhā also.
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-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. ekadāonce upon a time
  3. dānava-indrasyaof Vṛṣaparvā
  4. śarmiṣṭhāŚarmiṣṭhā
  5. nāmaby name
  6. kanyakāa daughter
  7. sakhī-sahasra-saṁyuktāaccompanied by thousands of friends
  8. guru-putryāwith the daughter of the guru, Śukrācārya
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 9.18

    In this verse: “sweetly”

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

Do you recognize moments when you mean no harm but are easily angered?

Practice

Notice one moment of irritation today and pause before speaking.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayInnocence Can Coexist With an Angry NatureThis 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 9.18.6-7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.