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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 19: King Yayāti Achieves Liberation
9.19.229.19.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.19.23

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.19.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भूमण्डलस्य सर्वस्य पूरुमर्हत्तमं विशाम् ।

अभिषिच्याग्रजांस्तस्य वशे स्थाप्य वनं ययौ ॥ २३ ॥

bhū-maṇḍalasya sarvasya

pūrum arhattamaṁ viśām

abhiṣicyāgrajāṁs tasya

vaśe sthāpya vanaṁ yayau

Translation

Yayāti enthroned his youngest son, Pūru, as the emperor of the entire world and the proprietor of all its riches, and he placed all the other sons, who were older than Pūru, under Pūru’s control.

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.

Pūru Receives Authority Over the Kingdom

  1. 1

    Yayāti enthroned his youngest son, Pūru, as emperor of the entire world.

  2. 2

    Pūru also became the proprietor of all its wealth and riches.

  3. 3

    Yayāti placed all his older sons under Pūru’s control. The youngest son thus received authority over his elder brothers.

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:

King Yayāti, however, renounced worldly life and divided his property among his sons. He personally adopted the life of a mendicant, or sannyāsī, giving up all attraction to material enjoyment, and engaged himself fully in devotional service to 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. bhū-maṇḍalasyaof the entire planet earth
  2. sarvasyaof all wealth and riches
  3. pūrumhis youngest son, Pūru
  4. arhat-tamamthe most worshipable person, the king
  5. viśāmof the citizens or the subjects of the world
  6. abhiṣicyacrowning on the throne of the emperor
  7. agrajānall his elder brothers, beginning from Yadu
  8. tasyaof Pūru
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “emperor”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do I respond when someone younger than me is given responsibility?

Practice

Support one person carrying an assigned responsibility today, without making age the deciding factor.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPūru Receives Authority Over the KingdomThis 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 9.19.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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