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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.19.8

Who is speaking and story frame

तं दुर्हृदं सुहृद्रूपं कामिनं क्षणसौहृदम् ।

इन्द्रियाराममुत्सृज्य स्वामिनं दु:खिता ययौ ॥ ८ ॥

taṁ durhṛdaṁ suhṛd-rūpaṁ

kāminaṁ kṣaṇa-sauhṛdam

indriyārāmam utsṛjya

svāminaṁ duḥkhitā yayau

Translation

Aggrieved by her husband’s behavior with another, the she-goat thought that the he-goat was not actually her friend but was hardhearted and was her friend only for the time being. Therefore, because her husband was lusty, she left him and returned to her former maintainer.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Temporary Affection Is Not True Care

  1. 1

    The grieving she-goat judged her husband to be hardhearted and a friend only temporarily. She left him and returned to her former maintainer.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that svāmī means “caretaker” or “master.” Here it indicates Devayānī’s return from Yayāti to her former protector, Śukrācārya.

  3. 3

    The purport describes the Vedic arrangement of a woman receiving protection from her father, husband and grown son at successive stages of life, rather than living independently.

Key points from the purport
  • Devayānī was cared for by Śukrācārya before her marriage, and after her marriage she was cared for by Yayāti, but here the word svāminam indicates that Devayānī left the protection of her husband, Yayāti, and returned to her former protector, Śukrācārya.
  • During childhood she should be cared for by her father, in youth by her husband, and in old age by a grown son.
  • In any stage of life, a woman should not have independence.

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 19: King Yayāti Achieves Liberation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One day thereafter, when the she-goat saw the he-goat enjoying sex with another she-goat, she became angry, abandoned the he-goat, and returned to her brāhmaṇa owner, to whom she described her husband’s behavior. The brāhmaṇa became very angry and cursed the he-goat to lose his sexual power.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.19
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamhim (the he-goat)
  2. durhṛdamcruel hearted
  3. suhṛt-rūpampretending to be a friend
  4. kāminamvery lusty
  5. kṣaṇa-sauhṛdamhaving friendship for the time being
  6. indriya-ārāmaminterested only in sense gratification or sensuality
  7. utsṛjyagiving up
  8. svāminamto her present husband, or to the former maintainer
  9. duḥkhitābeing very much aggrieved
  10. yayaushe left
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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 9.19

    In this verse: “lusty”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “father”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does your care for others remain steady when your own enjoyment is not involved?

Practice

Offer one small act of care today without seeking any enjoyment or favor in return.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTemporary Affection Is Not True CareThis 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 9.19.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.