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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.

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Canto 9 · Chapter 23: The Dynasties of the Sons of Yayāti

9.23.14 9.23.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.23.15

Visarga· Brahmā's creation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.23.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आरब्धस्तस्य गान्धारस्तस्य धर्मस्ततो धृत: ।

धृतस्य दुर्मदस्तस्मात् प्रचेता: प्राचेतस: शतम् ॥ १५ ॥

ārabdhas tasya gāndhāras

tasya dharmas tato dhṛtaḥ

dhṛtasya durmadas tasmāt

pracetāḥ prācetasaḥ śatam

Translation

The son of Setu was Ārabdha, Ārabdha’s son was Gāndhāra, and Gāndhāra’s son was Dharma. Dharma’s son was Dhṛta, Dhṛta’s son was Durmada, and Durmada’s son was Pracetā, who had one hundred sons.

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.

The Line from Setu to Pracetā

1
Setu’s son was Ārabdha, and Ārabdha’s son was Gāndhāra.
2
Gāndhāra’s son was Dharma. Dharma’s son was Dhṛta, whose son was Durmada.
3
Durmada’s son was Pracetā, who had one hundred sons.

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 23: The Dynasties of the Sons of Yayāti

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The son of Yayāti’s third son, Druhyu, was Babhru, whose son and grandsons were Setu, Ārabdha, Gāndhāra, Dharma, Dhṛta, Durmada and Pracetā. The son of Yayāti’s second son, Turvasu, was Vahni, whose seminal dynasty included Bharga, Bhānumān, Tribhānu, Karandhama and Maruta.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.23

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

ārabdhaḥĀrabdha (was the son of Setu)
tasyaof him (Ārabdha)
gāndhāraḥa son named Gāndhāra
tasyaof him (Gāndhāra)
dharmaḥa son known as Dharma
tataḥfrom him (Dharma)
dhṛtaḥa son named Dhṛta
dhṛtasyaof Dhṛta

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 9.23
In this verse: “dharma”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can you follow the generations from Setu to Pracetā without mixing up fathers and sons?

Practice

Draw a simple family line from Setu to Pracetā, noting Pracetā’s one hundred sons.

Live this todayThe Line from Setu to PracetāThis 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.

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