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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 20: The Dynasty of Pūru
9.20.119.20.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.20.12

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.20.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

व्यक्तं राजन्यतनयां वेद्‍म्यहं त्वां सुमध्यमे ।

न हि चेत: पौरवाणामधर्मे रमते क्‍वचित् ॥ १२ ॥

vyaktaṁ rājanya-tanayāṁ

vedmy ahaṁ tvāṁ sumadhyame

na hi cetaḥ pauravāṇām

adharme ramate kvacit

Translation

O most beautiful one, it appears to my mind that you must be the daughter of a kṣatriya. Because I belong to the Pūru dynasty, my mind never endeavors to enjoy anything irreligiously.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Marriage Desire Within Religious Boundaries

  1. 1

    Duṣmanta thought the woman must be the daughter of a kṣatriya. He presented this as what appeared to his mind.

  2. 2

    He said that, because he belonged to the Pūru dynasty, his mind never endeavored to enjoy anything irreligiously.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Duṣmanta was indirectly expressing his desire to marry Śakuntalā. She appeared to him to be the daughter of a kṣatriya king.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Duṣmanta indirectly expressed his desire to marry Śakuntalā, for she appeared to his mind to be the daughter of some kṣatriya king.

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

Historical movement → Anticipation. The narrative narrows toward its divine center.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 9: Lineages leading to the appearance of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 20: The Dynasty of Pūru

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

While hunting in the forest, Duṣmanta once approached the āśrama of Mahāṛṣi Kaṇva, where he saw an extremely beautiful woman and became attracted to her. That woman was the daughter of Viśvāmitra, and her name was Śakuntalā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vyaktamit appears
  2. rājanya-tanayāmthe daughter of a kṣatriya
  3. vedmican realize
  4. ahamI
  5. tvāmyour good self
  6. su-madhyameO most beautiful
  7. nanot
  8. hiindeed
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.20

    In this verse: “king”

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

When I desire something, do I consider whether pursuing it would be irreligious?

Practice

Choose one desire you may act on today and examine whether the action respects your religious principles.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMarriage Desire Within Religious BoundariesThis 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 9.20.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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