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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 21: The Dynasty of Bharata
9.21.249.21.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.21.25

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.21.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स कृत्व्यां शुककन्यायां ब्रह्मदत्तमजीजनत् ।

योगी स गवि भार्यायां विष्वक्सेनमधात् सुतम् ॥ २५ ॥

sa kṛtvyāṁ śuka-kanyāyāṁ

brahmadattam ajījanat

yogī sa gavi bhāryāyāṁ

viṣvaksenam adhāt sutam

Translation

King Nīpa begot a son named Brahmadatta through the womb of his wife, Kṛtvī, who was the daughter of Śuka. And Brahmadatta, who was a great yogī, begot a son named Viṣvaksena through the womb of his wife, Sarasvatī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Śukadeva’s Freedom from Māyā

  1. 1

    Nīpa and Kṛtvī had a son named Brahmadatta, who was a great yogī. Brahmadatta and Sarasvatī had a son named Viṣvaksena.

  2. 2

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī would not leave his mother’s womb without assurance that māyā would not influence him. He came out after the Personality of Godhead personally gave that assurance.

  3. 3

    The original Śukadeva was a lifelong brahmacārī. The purport explains that Kṛtvī was the daughter of the duplicate Śukadeva, who entered family life.

Key points from the purport
  • Vyāsadeva then assured the child that he would not be influenced by māyā, but the child did not believe his father, for the father was still attached to his wife and children.
  • Vyāsadeva then went to Dvārakā and informed the Personality of Godhead about his problem, and the Personality of Godhead, at Vyāsadeva’s request, went to Vyāsadeva’s cottage, where He assured the child in the womb that he would not be influenced by māyā.
  • Therefore, the śuka-kanyā, or daughter of Śukadeva, mentioned in this verse is the daughter of the duplicate or imitation Śukadeva.

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 21: The Dynasty of Bharata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

From Brahmadatta came Viṣvaksena; from Viṣvaksena, Udaksena; and from Udaksena, Bhallāṭa. The son of Dvimīḍha was Yavīnara, and from Yavīnara came many sons and grandsons, such as Kṛtimān, Satyadhṛti, Dṛḍhanemi, Supārśva, Sumati, Sannatimān, Kṛtī, Nīpa, Udgrāyudha, Kṣemya, Suvīra, Ripuñjaya and Bahuratha.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (King Nīpa)
  2. kṛtvyāmin his wife, Kṛtvī
  3. śuka-kanyāyāmwho was the daughter of Śuka
  4. brahmadattama son named Brahmadatta
  5. ajījanatbegot
  6. yogīa mystic yogī
  7. saḥthat Brahmadatta
  8. gaviby the name Gau or Sarasvatī
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.21

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.21

    In this verse: “māyā”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.21

    In this verse: “mother’s”

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

What does Śukadeva’s response to the Personality of Godhead’s assurance teach me about trust in Him?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on the Personality of Godhead’s assurance that Śukadeva would not be influenced by māyā.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayŚukadeva’s Freedom from MāyāThis 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 9.21.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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