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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 19: King Yayāti Achieves Liberation
9.19.239.19.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.19.24

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

आसेवितं वर्षपूगान् षड्‍वर्गं विषयेषु स: ।

क्षणेन मुमुचे नीडं जातपक्ष इव द्विज: ॥ २४ ॥

āsevitaṁ varṣa-pūgān

ṣaḍ-vargaṁ viṣayeṣu saḥ

kṣaṇena mumuce nīḍaṁ

jāta-pakṣa iva dvijaḥ

Translation

Having enjoyed sense gratification for many, many years, O King Parīkṣit, Yayāti was accustomed to it, but he gave it up entirely in a moment, just as a bird flies away from the nest as soon as its wings have grown.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Surrender Frees Us From Bondage

  1. 1

    Although Yayāti had enjoyed sense gratification for many years, he gave it up in a moment, like a bird leaving its nest when its wings have grown.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can immediately free one who fully surrenders to Him from the bondage of conditioned life.

  3. 3

    Yayāti was eager to serve Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, and the Lord helped him renounce material life. We must therefore be sincere in surrendering unto the Lord’s lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • That Mahārāja Yayāti was immediately liberated from the bondage of conditioned life is certainly astonishing.
  • And Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, can be pleased immediately if we accept His order by surrendering unto Him, as Mahārāja Yayāti did.
  • Mahārāja Yayāti was eager to serve Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, and therefore as soon as he wanted to renounce material life, Lord Vāsudeva helped him.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 9.19.24 quotesSB 2.4.18

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18): “Kirāta, Hūṇa, Āndhra, Pulinda, Pulkaśa, Ābhīra, Śumbha, Yavana and the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Without great endeavor, those with a poor fund of knowledge cannot give up sense enjoyment, especially in relation to sex, because a beautiful woman bewilders even the most learned man. King Yayāti, however, renounced worldly life and divided his property among his sons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āsevitambeing always engaged in
  2. varṣa-pūgānfor many, many years
  3. ṣaṭ-vargamthe six senses, including the mind
  4. viṣayeṣuin sense enjoyment
  5. saḥKing Yayāti
  6. kṣaṇenawithin a moment
  7. mumucegave up
  8. nīḍamnest
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: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “renounce”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking only relief from attachment, or am I also eager to serve Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a brief, sincere prayer to Kṛṣṇa for help in giving up one attachment and becoming eager to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 2.4.18

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.19's connections

Live this todaySincere Surrender Frees Us From BondageThis 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 9.19.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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