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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
9.20.339.20.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.20.34

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.20.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्यासन् नृप वैदर्भ्य: पत्‍न्यस्तिस्र: सुसम्मता: ।

जघ्नुस्त्यागभयात् पुत्रान् नानुरूपा इतीरिते ॥ ३४ ॥

tasyāsan nṛpa vaidarbhyaḥ

patnyas tisraḥ susammatāḥ

jaghnus tyāga-bhayāt putrān

nānurūpā itīrite

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, Mahārāja Bharata had three pleasing wives, who were daughters of the King of Vidarbha. When all three of them bore children who did not resemble the King, these wives thought that he would consider them unfaithful queens and reject them, and therefore they killed their own sons.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fear of Rejection Led to Tragedy

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Bharata had three pleasing wives, all daughters of the King of Vidarbha.

  2. 2

    Their children did not resemble the King. The queens feared that he would consider them unfaithful and reject them.

  3. 3

    Because of this fear, they killed their own sons. The verse records the tragic harm caused by their response to anticipated rejection.

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. tasyaof him (Mahārāja Bharata)
  2. āsanthere were
  3. nṛpaO King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit)
  4. vaidarbhyaḥdaughters of Vidarbha
  5. patnyaḥwives
  6. tisraḥthree
  7. su-sammatāḥvery pleasing and suitable
  8. jaghnuḥkilled
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.20

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “children”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.20

    In this verse: “feared”

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 fear of what others might think distort your judgment?

Practice

If you fear someone’s judgment today, pause before acting and distinguish what you know from what you only fear.

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 todayFear of Rejection Led to TragedyThis 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 9.20.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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