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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
9.2.29.2.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.2.3

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पृषध्रस्तु मनो: पुत्रो गोपालो गुरुणा कृत: ।

पालयामास गा यत्तो रात्र्यां वीरासनव्रत: ॥ ३ ॥

pṛṣadhras tu manoḥ putro

go-pālo guruṇā kṛtaḥ

pālayām āsa gā yatto

rātryāṁ vīrāsana-vrataḥ

Translation

Among these sons, Pṛṣadhra, following the order of his spiritual master, was engaged as a protector of cows. He would stand all night with a sword to give the cows protection.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Cow Protection Is an Essential Duty

  1. 1

    Following his spiritual master’s order, Pṛṣadhra became a protector of cows.

  2. 2

    The vow of vīrāsana means standing all night with a sword to protect cows. From Pṛṣadhra’s engagement in this vow, the purport understands that he had no dynasty.

  3. 3

    Protecting cows from ferocious animals, even at night, shows how essential their protection is. The purport calls sending cows to slaughterhouses the most sinful activity in human society.

Key points from the purport
  • One who becomes vīrāsana takes the vow to stand all night with a sword to give protection to the cows.
  • We can further understand from this vow accepted by Pṛṣadhra how essential it is to protect the cows.
  • Some son of a kṣatriya would take this vow to protect the cows from ferocious animals, even at night.

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

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:

Following the order of his spiritual master, he would stand in this way for the entire night. Once, in the darkness of night, a tiger seized a cow from the cowshed, and when Pṛṣadhra came to know this, he took a sword in his hand and followed the tiger.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pṛṣadhraḥ tuamong them, Pṛṣadhra
  2. manoḥof Manu
  3. putraḥthe son
  4. go-pālaḥherding cows
  5. guruṇāby the order of his spiritual master
  6. kṛtaḥhaving been engaged
  7. pālayām āsahe protected
  8. gāḥcows
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 9.2

    In this verse: “protector”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.2

    In this verse: “understands”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 9.2

    In this verse: “sinful”

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 can you give practical attention to the protection of cows?

Practice

Identify one concrete way you could support cow protection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCow Protection Is an Essential DutyThis 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 9.2.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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