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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
9.2.229.2.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.2.23-24

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

नाभागो दिष्टपुत्रोऽन्य: कर्मणा वैश्यतां गत: ।

भलन्दन: सुतस्तस्य वत्सप्रीतिर्भलन्दनात् ॥ २३ ॥

वत्सप्रीते: सुत: प्रांशुस्तत्सुतं प्रमतिं विदु: ।

खनित्र: प्रमतेस्तस्माच्चाक्षुषोऽथ विविंशति: ॥ २४ ॥

nābhāgo diṣṭa-putro ’nyaḥ

karmaṇā vaiśyatāṁ gataḥ

bhalandanaḥ sutas tasya

vatsaprītir bhalandanāt

vatsaprīteḥ sutaḥ prāṁśus

tat-sutaṁ pramatiṁ viduḥ

khanitraḥ pramates tasmāc

cākṣuṣo ’tha viviṁśatiḥ

Translation

Diṣṭa had a son by the name Nābhāga. This Nābhāga, who was different from the Nābhāga described later, became a vaiśya by occupational duty. The son of Nābhāga was known as Bhalandana, the son of Bhalandana was Vatsaprīti, and his son was Prāṁśu. Prāṁśu’s son was Pramati, Pramati’s son was Khanitra, Khanitra’s son was Cākṣuṣa, and his son was Viviṁśati.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Qualities and Work Determine Social Position

  1. 1

    Diṣṭa’s son Nābhāga became a vaiśya by occupational duty. He was different from the Nābhāga described later.

  2. 2

    Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas should never be regarded as castes determined by birth. A person’s position can change according to qualities and work.

  3. 3

    Society needs trained brāhmaṇas to guide people toward perfection in life. Therefore, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement seeks to train brāhmaṇas to guide human society.

Key points from the purport
  • From Manu, one son became a kṣatriya, another a brāhmaṇa, and another a vaiśya.
  • Similarly, a brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya may be changed into a vaiśya, and a vaiśya into a brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya.
  • So one is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya never by birth, but by quality.

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 9.2.23-24 quotesSB 7.11.35

This confirms the statement by Nārada Muni, yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam.

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 the seminal dynasty of Diṣṭa, another son of Manu, came Nābhāga, and from him in succession came Bhalandana, Vatsaprīti, Prāṁśu, Pramati, Khanitra, Cākṣuṣa, Viviṁśati, Rambha, Khanīnetra, Karandhama, Avīkṣit, Marutta, Dama, Rājyavardhana, Sudhṛti, Nara, Kevala, Dhundhumān, Vegavān, Budha and Tṛṇabindu. In this way, many sons and grandsons were born in this dynasty.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nābhāgaḥby the name Nābhāga
  2. diṣṭa-putraḥthe son of Diṣṭa
  3. anyaḥanother
  4. karmaṇāby occupation
  5. vaiśyatāmthe order of the vaiśyas
  6. gataḥachieved
  7. bhalandanaḥby the name Bhalandana
  8. sutaḥson
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.2

    In this verse: “duty”

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

How does this teaching challenge the idea that birth fixes a person’s social position?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining why qualities and work, rather than birth, determine the positions described here.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayQualities and Work Determine Social PositionThis 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.

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