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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.23.38

Who is speaking and story frame

अन्वमोदन्त तद्विश्वेदेवा: पितर एव च ।

शैब्या गर्भमधात् काले कुमारं सुषुवे शुभम् ।

स विदर्भ इति प्रोक्त उपयेमे स्‍नुषां सतीम् ॥ ३८ ॥

anvamodanta tad viśve-

devāḥ pitara eva ca

śaibyā garbham adhāt kāle

kumāraṁ suṣuve śubham

sa vidarbha iti prokta

upayeme snuṣāṁ satīm

Translation

Long, long ago, Jyāmagha had satisfied the demigods and Pitās by worshiping them. Now, by their mercy, Jyāmagha’s words came true. Although Śaibyā was barren, by the grace of the demigods she became pregnant and in due course of time gave birth to a child named Vidarbha. Before the child’s birth, the girl had been accepted as a daughter-in-law, and therefore Vidarbha actually married her when he grew up.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Jyāmagha’s Words Came True Through Mercy

  1. 1

    Long before, Jyāmagha had satisfied the demigods and Pitās by worshiping them. By their mercy, his words came true.

  2. 2

    Although Śaibyā was barren, she became pregnant by the grace of the demigods. In due course, she gave birth to Vidarbha.

  3. 3

    The girl had been accepted as a daughter-in-law before Vidarbha’s birth. When he grew up, he married her.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Twenty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Dynasties of the Sons of Yayāti.”

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:

Rucaka had five sons, one of whom was known as Jyāmagha. Jyāmagha was sonless, but by the mercy of the demigods his childless wife gave birth to a son named Vidarbha.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.23
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. anvamodantaaccepted
  2. tatthat statement predicting the birth of a son
  3. viśvedevāḥthe Viśvedeva demigods
  4. pitaraḥthe Pitās or forefathers
  5. evaindeed
  6. caalso
  7. śaibyāthe wife of Jyāmagha
  8. garbhampregnancy
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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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 9.23

    In this verse: “mercy”, “grace”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 9.23

    In this verse: “worshiping”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.23

    In this verse: “child”

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 the verse connect Jyāmagha’s earlier worship with the fulfillment of his words?

Practice

Summarize in one sentence how the verse explains Śaibyā’s giving birth to Vidarbha.

Live this todayJyāmagha’s Words Came True Through MercyThis 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 9.23.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.