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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 2: The Dynasties of the Sons of Manu
9.2.169.2.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.2.17

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

धृष्टाद् धार्ष्टमभूत् क्षत्रं ब्रह्मभूयं गतं क्षितौ ।

नृगस्य वंश: सुमतिर्भूतज्योतिस्ततो वसु: ॥ १७ ॥

dhṛṣṭād dhārṣṭam abhūt kṣatraṁ

brahma-bhūyaṁ gataṁ kṣitau

nṛgasya vaṁśaḥ sumatir

bhūtajyotis tato vasuḥ

Translation

From the son of Manu named Dhṛṣṭa came a kṣatriya caste called Dhārṣṭa, whose members achieved the position of brāhmaṇas in this world. Then, from the son of Manu named Nṛga came Sumati. From Sumati came Bhūtajyoti, and from Bhūtajyoti came Vasu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize Qualities, Not Birth

  1. 1

    The Dhārṣṭas descended from Dhṛṣṭa and belonged to the kṣatriya group, yet they achieved the position of brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    When the qualities of one group appear in someone from another, that person should be recognized by those qualities, not by family birth.

  3. 3

    The purport stresses that birth is not important in determining this position. One’s qualities are emphasized throughout Vedic literature.

Key points from the purport
  • Here it is said, kṣatraṁ brahma-bhūyaṁ gataṁ kṣitau: although the Dhārṣṭas belonged to the kṣatriya caste, they were able to convert themselves into brāhmaṇas.
  • If the qualities of one group are found in the men of another, those men should be recognized by their qualities, by their symptoms, not by the caste of the family in which they were born.
  • Birth is not at all important; it is one’s qualities that are stressed in all Vedic literature.

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 9.2.17 quotesSB 7.11.35

This gives clear evidence supporting the following statement by Nārada: If the qualities of one group are found in the men of another, those men should be recognized by their qualities, by their symptoms, not by the caste of the family in which they were born.

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

Change → Acceptance. The instability of worldly identities is a recurring premise.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 9: Dynastic origins and domestic transformations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: The Dynasties of the Sons of Manu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

From Nṛga, another son of Manu, came the sons and grandsons known as Sumati, Bhūtajyoti and Vasu. From Vasu, in succession, came Pratīka, and from him came Oghavān.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dhṛṣṭātfrom Dhṛṣṭa, another son of Manu
  2. dhārṣṭama caste of the name Dhārṣṭa
  3. abhūtwas produced
  4. kṣatrambelonging to the kṣatriya group
  5. brahma-bhūyamthe position of brāhmaṇas
  6. gatamhad achieved
  7. kṣitauon the surface of the world
  8. nṛgasyaof Nṛga, another son of Manu
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I judge people by their family background or by their actual qualities?

Practice

Notice one good quality in someone today without referring to that person’s family background.

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 7.11.35

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.2's connections

Live this todayRecognize Qualities, Not BirthThis 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 9.2.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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