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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 9.19.9

Who is speaking and story frame

सोऽपि चानुगत: स्त्रैण: कृपणस्तां प्रसादितुम् ।

कुर्वन्निडविडाकारं नाशक्नोत् पथि सन्धितुम् ॥ ९ ॥

so ’pi cānugataḥ straiṇaḥ

kṛpaṇas tāṁ prasāditum

kurvann iḍaviḍā-kāraṁ

nāśaknot pathi sandhitum

Translation

Being very sorry, the he-goat, who was subservient to his wife, followed the she-goat on the road and tried his best to flatter her, but he could not pacify her.

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.

Flattery Cannot Always Pacify Hurt

  1. 1

    The he-goat was very sorry and followed the she-goat along the road.

  2. 2

    Being subservient to his wife, he tried his best to flatter her.

  3. 3

    Despite his efforts, he could not pacify her. His words did not remove her distress.

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:

He became attracted to this she-goat and somehow or other delivered her from the well, and thus they were united. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥthat he-goat
  2. apialso
  3. caalso
  4. anugataḥfollowing the she-goat
  5. straiṇaḥhenpecked
  6. kṛpaṇaḥvery poor
  7. tāmher
  8. prasāditumto satisfy
3

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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 9.19

    In this verse: “distress”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Have you relied on pleasing words when another person remained hurt?

Practice

If someone is upset with you today, listen without expecting flattering words to settle the matter.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFlattery Cannot Always Pacify HurtThis 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 9.19.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.