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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 20: The Dynasty of Pūru
9.20.209.20.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.20.21

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The voicesince 9.20.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

माता भस्त्रा पितु: पुत्रो येन जात: स एव स: ।

भरस्व पुत्रं दुष्मन्त मावमंस्था: शकुन्तलाम् ॥ २१ ॥

mātā bhastrā pituḥ putro

yena jātaḥ sa eva saḥ

bharasva putraṁ duṣmanta

māvamaṁsthāḥ śakuntalām

Translation

The voice said: O Mahārāja Duṣmanta, a son actually belongs to his father, whereas the mother is only a container, like the skin of a bellows. According to Vedic injunctions, the father is born as the son. Therefore, maintain your own son and do not insult Śakuntalā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Maintains All Living Entities

  1. 1

    The voice instructed Duṣmanta to maintain his son and not insult Śakuntalā. The purport explains the Vedic teaching that the father becomes the son and is responsible for his maintenance.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the seed-giving father of all living entities. Although He is one, He supplies life's necessities to all, from the small ant to the elephant.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the fully opulent Lord has no shortage of food. Material nature supplies or withholds food under His order, according to the living entity's position.

Key points from the purport
  • In Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that He is the seed-giving father of all living entities (ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā), and therefore He is responsible for maintaining them.
  • The living entities in different forms are sons of the Lord, and therefore the father, the Supreme Lord, supplies them food according to their different bodies.
  • The mother resembles the earth, and when a particular type of seed is sown by the father, a particular type of body takes birth.

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 9.20.21 quotesBG 7.10

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.10) the Lord also says, bījaṁ māṁ sarva-bhūtānām: “I am the seed of all living entities.”

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

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:

Therefore, when Śakuntalā approached him with her newly born child, Mahārāja Duṣmanta refused to accept them as his wife and son. Later, however, after a mysterious omen, the King accepted them.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mātāthe mother
  2. bhastrājust like the skin of a bellows containing air
  3. pituḥof the father
  4. putraḥthe son
  5. yenaby whom
  6. jātaḥone is born
  7. saḥthe father
  8. evaindeed
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.20

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.20

    In this verse: “material”

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 remembering Kṛṣṇa as everyone's maintaining father deepen my gratitude and responsibility?

Practice

Before eating today, pause to thank Kṛṣṇa for maintaining you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Maintains All Living EntitiesThis 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 9.20.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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