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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.21.34

Who is speaking and story frame

मिथुनं मुद्गलाद् भार्म्याद् दिवोदास: पुमानभूत् ।

अहल्या कन्यका यस्यां शतानन्दस्तु गौतमात् ॥ ३४ ॥

mithunaṁ mudgalād bhārmyād

divodāsaḥ pumān abhūt

ahalyā kanyakā yasyāṁ

śatānandas tu gautamāt

Translation

Mudgala, the son of Bharmyāśva, had twin children, one male and the other female. The male child was named Divodāsa, and the female child was named Ahalyā. From the womb of Ahalyā by the semen of her husband, Gautama, came a son named Śatānanda.

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.

Mudgala’s Twins and Ahalyā’s Son

  1. 1

    Mudgala, the son of Bharmyāśva, had twins: a boy and a girl.

  2. 2

    The boy was named Divodāsa, and the girl was named Ahalyā.

  3. 3

    Ahalyā and her husband, Gautama, had a son named Śatānanda.

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 Ahalyā, by her husband, Gautama, Śatānanda was born. The son of Śatānanda was Satyadhṛti, and his son was Śaradvān.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mithunamtwins, one male and one female
  2. mudgalātfrom Mudgala
  3. bhārmyātthe son of Bharmyāśva
  4. divodāsaḥDivodāsa
  5. pumānthe male one
  6. abhūtgenerated
  7. ahalyāAhalyā
  8. kanyakāthe female
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “children”

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

Can I trace Śatānanda’s relationship to Ahalyā and Mudgala?

Practice

Draw Mudgala’s two children, then add Gautama and Śatānanda to Ahalyā’s branch.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMudgala’s Twins and Ahalyā’s SonThis 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 9.21.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.