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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 23: The Dynasties of the Sons of Yayāti
9.23.159.23.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.23.16

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

म्‍लेच्छाधिपतयोऽभूवन्नुदीचीं दिशमाश्रिता: ।

तुर्वसोश्च सुतो वह्निर्वह्नेर्भर्गोऽथ भानुमान् ॥ १६ ॥

mlecchādhipatayo ’bhūvann

udīcīṁ diśam āśritāḥ

turvasoś ca suto vahnir

vahner bhargo ’tha bhānumān

Translation

The Pracetās [the sons of Pracetā] occupied the northern side of India, which was devoid of Vedic civilization, and became kings there. Yayāti’s second son was Turvasu. The son of Turvasu was Vahni; the son of Vahni, Bharga; the son of Bharga, Bhānumān.

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 Pracetās and Turvasu’s Descendants

  1. 1

    The Pracetās, the sons of Pracetā, became kings in the northern side of India.

  2. 2

    The region they occupied was devoid of Vedic civilization.

  3. 3

    Yayāti’s second son was Turvasu. Turvasu’s son was Vahni, Vahni’s son was Bharga, and Bharga’s son was Bhānumān.

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 23: The Dynasties of the Sons of Yayāti

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The son of Yayāti’s second son, Turvasu, was Vahni, whose seminal dynasty included Bharga, Bhānumān, Tribhānu, Karandhama and Maruta. The childless Maruta accepted Duṣmanta, who belonged to the Pūru dynasty, as his adopted son.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mlecchaof the lands known as Mlecchadeśa (where Vedic civilization was not present)
  2. adhipatayaḥthe kings
  3. abhūvanbecame
  4. udīcīmon the northern side of India
  5. diśamthe direction
  6. āśritāḥaccepting as the jurisdiction
  7. turvasoḥ caof Turvasu, the second son of Mahārāja Yayāti
  8. sutaḥthe son
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 9.23

    In this verse: “kings”

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 two family groups does this verse help you distinguish?

Practice

Write one line about where the Pracetās ruled and another tracing Turvasu’s descendants.

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 9.23's connections

Live this todayThe Pracetās and Turvasu’s DescendantsThis 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 9.23.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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