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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

9.2.3 9.2.5-6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.2.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एकदा प्राविशद् गोष्ठं शार्दूलो निशि वर्षति ।

शयाना गाव उत्थाय भीतास्ता बभ्रमुर्व्रजे ॥ ४ ॥

ekadā prāviśad goṣṭhaṁ

śārdūlo niśi varṣati

śayānā gāva utthāya

bhītās tā babhramur vraje

Translation

Once at night, while it was raining, a tiger entered the land of the cowshed. Upon seeing the tiger, all the cows, who were lying down, got up in fear and scattered here and there on the land.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Cows Become Frightened

1
A tiger entered the land of the cowshed one rainy night.
2
The cows had been lying down, but they rose in fear when they saw the tiger.
3
The frightened cows scattered here and there around the cowshed.

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

Chapter 2: The Dynasties of the Sons of Manu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. Unfortunately, when he finally approached the tiger, he could not distinguish between the cow and the tiger in the dark, and thus he killed the cow.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

ekadāonce upon a time
prāviśatentered
goṣṭhamthe land of the cowshed
śārdūlaḥa tiger
niśiat night
varṣatiwhile it was raining
śayānāḥlying down
gāvaḥcows

Key ideas in this verse

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

Īśānukathā · The science of God
Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.2
In this verse: “fear”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the cows’ fear deepen your concern for animals needing protection?

Practice

Take care not to frighten an animal you encounter today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Cows Become FrightenedThis 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 9.2.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories