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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 19: King Yayāti Achieves Liberation
9.19.209.19.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.19.21

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.19.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इत्युक्त्वा नाहुषो जायां तदीयं पूरवे वय: ।

दत्त्वा स्वजरसं तस्मादाददे विगतस्पृह: ॥ २१ ॥

ity uktvā nāhuṣo jāyāṁ

tadīyaṁ pūrave vayaḥ

dattvā sva-jarasaṁ tasmād

ādade vigata-spṛhaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After speaking in this way to his wife, Devayānī, King Yayāti, who was now free from all material desires, called his youngest son, Pūru, and returned Pūru’s youth in exchange for his own old age.

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.

Freedom from Desire Becomes Action

  1. 1

    After speaking to Devayānī, King Yayāti was free from all material desires.

  2. 2

    He called his youngest son, Pūru, and returned Pūru’s youth.

  3. 3

    In exchange, Yayāti accepted his own old age again. His action matched the freedom from desire described in the translation.

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 19: King Yayāti Achieves Liberation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus he attained perfection. Later, when his beloved wife, Devayānī, was freed from her mistaken way of life, she also engaged herself in the devotional service of the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. iti uktvāsaying this
  2. nāhuṣaḥMahārāja Yayāti, the son of King Nahuṣa
  3. jāyāmunto his wife, Devayānī
  4. tadīyamhis own
  5. pūraveunto his son Pūru
  6. vayaḥyouth
  7. dattvādelivering
  8. sva-jarasamhis own invalidity and old age
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What small action could show that I am becoming less attached to material enjoyment?

Practice

Give up one unnecessary comfort today as a small step toward putting freedom from desire into action.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFreedom from Desire Becomes ActionThis 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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