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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 20: The Dynasty of Pūru
9.20.329.20.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.20.33

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.20.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स संराड्‍लोकपालाख्यमैश्वर्यमधिराट् श्रियम् ।

चक्रं चास्खलितं प्राणान् मृषेत्युपरराम ह ॥ ३३ ॥

sa saṁrāḍ loka-pālākhyam

aiśvaryam adhirāṭ śriyam

cakraṁ cāskhalitaṁ prāṇān

mṛṣety upararāma ha

Translation

As the ruler of the entire universe, Emperor Bharata had the opulences of a great kingdom and unconquerable soldiers. His sons and family had seemed to him to be his entire life. But finally he thought of all this as an impediment to spiritual advancement, and therefore he ceased from enjoying it.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Spiritual Advancement Over Material Enjoyment

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Bharata possessed incomparable sovereignty, wealth and unconquerable soldiers. His sons and family had seemed to be his entire life.

  2. 2

    When he recognized these material opulences as impediments to spiritual advancement, he ceased enjoying them.

  3. 3

    The purport says that Vedic civilization directs one, after a certain age, to follow Bharata’s example. One should retire from material enjoyment and take the order of vānaprastha.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Bharata had incomparable opulence in sovereignty, soldiers, sons, daughters and everything for material enjoyment, but when he realized that all such material opulences were useless for spiritual advancement, he retired from material enjoyment.
  • The Vedic civilization enjoins that after a certain age, following in the footsteps of Mahārāja Bharata, one should cease to enjoy material opulences and should take the order of vānaprastha.

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:

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. saḥhe (Mahārāja Bharata)
  2. saṁrāṭthe emperor
  3. loka-pāla-ākhyamknown as the ruler of all the lokas, or planets
  4. aiśvaryamsuch opulences
  5. adhirāṭthoroughly in power
  6. śriyamkingdom
  7. cakramsoldiers or orders
  8. caand
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.20

    In this verse: “kingdom”, “ruler”, “emperor”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “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

Which attachment to enjoyment most distracts you from spiritual advancement?

Practice

Set aside one optional material enjoyment today and use that time for spiritual study.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.20's connections

Live this todayChoose Spiritual Advancement Over Material EnjoymentThis 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 9.20.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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