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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 22: The Descendants of Ajamīḍha
9.22.16-179.22.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.22.18-19

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.22.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सोमवंशे कलौ नष्टे कृतादौ स्थापयिष्यति ।

बाह्लीकात्सोमदत्तोऽभूद् भूरिर्भूरिश्रवास्तत: ॥ १८ ॥

शलश्च शान्तनोरासीद् गङ्गायां भीष्म आत्मवान् ।

सर्वधर्मविदां श्रेष्ठो महाभागवत: कवि: ॥ १९ ॥

soma-vaṁśe kalau naṣṭe

kṛtādau sthāpayiṣyati

bāhlīkāt somadatto ’bhūd

bhūrir bhūriśravās tataḥ

śalaś ca śāntanor āsīd

gaṅgāyāṁ bhīṣma ātmavān

sarva-dharma-vidāṁ śreṣṭho

mahā-bhāgavataḥ kaviḥ

Translation

After the dynasty of the moon-god comes to an end in this Age of Kali, Devāpi, in the beginning of the next Satya-yuga, will reestablish the Soma dynasty in this world. From Bāhlīka [the brother of Śāntanu] came a son named Somadatta, who had three sons, named Bhūri, Bhūriśravā and Śala. From Śāntanu, through the womb of his wife named Gaṅgā, came Bhīṣma, the exalted, self-realized devotee and learned scholar.

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.

Bhīṣma: A Self-Realized Devotee and Scholar

  1. 1

    After the moon-god’s dynasty ends in the Age of Kali, Devāpi will reestablish the Soma dynasty at the beginning of the next Satya-yuga.

  2. 2

    Bāhlīka’s son was Somadatta. Somadatta had three sons: Bhūri, Bhūriśravā and Śala.

  3. 3

    Bhīṣma was born to Śāntanu and Gaṅgā. He is described as an exalted, self-realized devotee and learned scholar.

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 22: The Descendants of Ajamīḍha

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In this Kali-yuga, when the descendants of Soma known as the candra-vaṁśa (the lunar dynasty) die out, Devāpi, at the beginning of Satya-yuga, will reestablish the dynasty of the moon. The wife of Śāntanu named Gaṅgā gave birth to Bhīṣma, one of the twelve authorities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. soma-vaṁśewhen the dynasty of the moon-god
  2. kalauin this Age of Kali
  3. naṣṭebeing lost
  4. kṛta-ādauat the beginning of the next Satya-yuga
  5. sthāpayiṣyatiwill reestablish
  6. bāhlīkātfrom Bāhlīka
  7. somadattaḥSomadatta
  8. abhūtgenerated
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.22

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 do I appreciate about Bhīṣma being described as both a devotee and a learned scholar?

Practice

Write down Bhīṣma’s qualities from this translation and reflect on one you would like to cultivate.

5

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 9.22's connections

Live this todayBhīṣma: A Self-Realized Devotee and ScholarThis 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 9.22.18-19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.