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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 21: The Dynasty of Bharata

9.21.12 9.21.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.21.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.21.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

क्षुत्तृट्‍श्रमो गात्रपरिभ्रमश्च

दैन्यं क्लम: शोकविषादमोहा: ।

सर्वे निवृत्ता: कृपणस्य जन्तो-

र्जिजीविषोर्जीवजलार्पणान्मे ॥ १३ ॥

kṣut-tṛṭ-śramo gātra-paribhramaś ca

dainyaṁ klamaḥ śoka-viṣāda-mohāḥ

sarve nivṛttāḥ kṛpaṇasya jantor

jijīviṣor jīva-jalārpaṇān me

Translation

By offering my water to maintain the life of this poor caṇḍāla, who is struggling to live, I have been freed from all hunger, thirst, fatigue, trembling of the body, moroseness, distress, lamentation and illusion.

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.

Compassion Brings Relief from Personal Distress

1
The water was offered to maintain the life of a poor caṇḍāla who was struggling to live.
2
The speaker declares that offering his water freed him from hunger, thirst, fatigue and trembling of the body.
3
He also describes freedom from moroseness, distress, lamentation and illusion.

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

Chapter 21: The Dynasty of Bharata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Rantideva therefore gave the rest of the food to the new guest and was about to content himself with drinking the water to quench his thirst, but this also was precluded, for a thirsty guest came and Rantideva gave him the water. This was all ordained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead just to glorify His devotee and show how tolerant a devotee is in rendering service to the Lord.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.21

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kṣutfrom hunger
tṛṭand thirst
śramaḥfatigue
gātra-paribhramaḥtrembling of the body
caalso
dainyampoverty
klamaḥdistress
śokalamentation

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
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.21
In this verse: “illusion”
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 9.21
In this verse: “distress”
Viraha · Longing in separation
Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 9.21
In this verse: “lamentation”

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 this act of compassion challenge my usual response to personal discomfort?

Practice

Offer a glass of water to someone who needs it today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompassion Brings Relief from Personal DistressThis 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 9.21.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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