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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 23: The Dynasties of the Sons of Yayāti
9.23.299.23.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.23.30-31

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

माधवा वृष्णयो राजन् यादवाश्चेति संज्ञिता: ।

यदुपुत्रस्य च क्रोष्टो: पुत्रो वृजिनवांस्तत: ।

स्वाहितोऽतो विषद्गुर्वै तस्य चित्ररथस्तत: ॥ ३० ॥

शशबिन्दुर्महायोगी महाभागो महानभूत् ।

चतुर्दशमहारत्नश्चक्रवर्त्यपराजित: ॥ ३१ ॥

mādhavā vṛṣṇayo rājan

yādavāś ceti saṁjñitāḥ

yadu-putrasya ca kroṣṭoḥ

putro vṛjinavāṁs tataḥ

svāhito ’to viṣadgur vai

tasya citrarathas tataḥ

śaśabindur mahā-yogī

mahā-bhāgo mahān abhūt

caturdaśa-mahāratnaś

cakravarty aparājitaḥ

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, because Yadu, Madhu and Vṛṣṇi each inaugurated a dynasty, their dynasties are known as Yādava, Mādhava and Vṛṣṇi. The son of Yadu named Kroṣṭā had a son named Vṛjinavān. The son of Vṛjinavān was Svāhita; the son of Svāhita, Viṣadgu; the son of Viṣadgu, Citraratha; and the son of Citraratha, Śaśabindu. The greatly fortunate Śaśabindu, who was a great mystic, possessed fourteen opulences and was the owner of fourteen great jewels. Thus he became the emperor of the world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Śaśabindu Possessed All Fourteen Opulences

  1. 1

    The Yādava, Mādhava and Vṛṣṇi dynasties bear their founders’ names. From Yadu, the line continued through Kroṣṭā, Vṛjinavān, Svāhita, Viṣadgu and Citraratha to Śaśabindu.

  2. 2

    The greatly fortunate Śaśabindu was a great mystic who possessed fourteen opulences and became emperor of the world. The purport explains that an emperor must possess all fourteen.

  3. 3

    The Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa lists these as an elephant, a horse, a chariot, a wife, arrows, a reservoir of wealth, a garland, valuable costumes, trees, a spear, a noose, jewels, an umbrella and regulative principles.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa the fourteen kinds of great jewels are described as follows: (1) an elephant, (2) a horse, (3) a chariot, (4) a wife, (5) arrows, (6) a reservoir of wealth, (7) a garland, (8) valuable costumes, (9) trees, (10) a spear, (11) a noose, (12) jewels, (13) an umbrella, and (14) regulative principles.
  • To be the emperor, one must possess all fourteen of these opulences.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

Another son of Yadu was Kroṣṭā, and from him came Vṛjinavān, Svāhita, Viṣadgu, Citraratha, Śaśabindu, Pṛthuśravā, Dharma, Uśanā and Rucaka. Rucaka had five sons, one of whom was known as Jyāmagha.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mādhavāḥthe dynasty beginning from Madhu
  2. vṛṣṇayaḥthe dynasty beginning from Vṛṣṇi
  3. rājanO King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit)
  4. yādavāḥthe dynasty beginning from Yadu
  5. caand
  6. itithus
  7. saṁjñitāḥare so-called because of those different persons
  8. yadu-putrasyaof the son of Yadu
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: “emperor”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.23

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 9.23

    In this verse: “principles”

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 catches your attention about regulative principles being included among these opulences?

Practice

Read the list of fourteen opulences and note one item you would not have expected.

Live this todayŚaśabindu Possessed All Fourteen OpulencesThis 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 9.23.30-31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.