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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
9.22.269.22.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.22.27-28

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

शापान्मैथुनरुद्धस्य पाण्डो: कुन्त्यां महारथा: ।

जाता धर्मानिलेन्द्रेभ्यो युधिष्ठिरमुखास्त्रय: ॥ २७ ॥

नकुल: सहदेवश्च माद्रय‍ां नासत्यदस्रयो: ।

द्रौपद्यां पञ्च पञ्चभ्य: पुत्रास्ते पितरोऽभवन् ॥ २८ ॥

śāpān maithuna-ruddhasya

pāṇḍoḥ kuntyāṁ mahā-rathāḥ

jātā dharmānilendrebhyo

yudhiṣṭhira-mukhās trayaḥ

nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca

mādryāṁ nāsatya-dasrayoḥ

draupadyāṁ pañca pañcabhyaḥ

putrās te pitaro ’bhavan

Translation

Pāṇḍu was restrained from sexual life because of having been cursed by a sage, and therefore his three sons Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna were begotten through the womb of his wife, Kuntī, by Dharmarāja, by the demigod controlling the wind, and by the demigod controlling the rain. Pāṇḍu’s second wife, Mādrī, gave birth to Nakula and Sahadeva, who were begotten by the two Aśvinī-kumāras. The five brothers, headed by Yudhiṣṭhira, begot five sons through the womb of Draupadī. These five sons were your uncles.

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.

The Births of Pāṇḍu’s Five Sons

  1. 1

    A sage’s curse restrained Pāṇḍu from sexual life. Kuntī’s sons Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna were begotten respectively by Dharmarāja, the demigod controlling the wind, and the demigod controlling the rain.

  2. 2

    Pāṇḍu’s second wife, Mādrī, gave birth to Nakula and Sahadeva. They were begotten by the two Aśvinī-kumāras.

  3. 3

    The five brothers, headed by Yudhiṣṭhira, each begot a son through Draupadī. These five sons were the uncles of the king being addressed.

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:

Therefore Śāntanu resumed charge of the kingdom, and rain fell properly during his regime. By mystic power, Devāpi still lives in the village known as Kalāpa-grāma.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śāpātdue to being cursed
  2. maithuna-ruddhasyawho had to restrain sexual life
  3. pāṇḍoḥof Pāṇḍu
  4. kuntyāmin the womb of Kuntī
  5. mahā-rathāḥgreat heroes
  6. jātāḥtook birth
  7. dharmaby Mahārāja Dharma, or Dharmarāja
  8. anilaby the demigod controlling the wind
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.22

    In this verse: “dharmarāja”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.22

    In this verse: “king”

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 does tracing these family relationships help me read the account more attentively?

Practice

Make two headings, Kuntī and Mādrī, and list their sons beneath them.

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 todayThe Births of Pāṇḍu’s Five SonsThis 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 9.22.27-28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.