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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
9.23.3-49.23.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.23.5

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

अङ्गवङ्गकलिङ्गाद्या: सुह्मपुण्ड्रौड्रसंज्ञिता: ।

जज्ञिरे दीर्घतमसो बले: क्षेत्रे महीक्षित: ॥ ५ ॥

aṅga-vaṅga-kaliṅgādyāḥ

suhma-puṇḍrauḍra-saṁjñitāḥ

jajñire dīrghatamaso

baleḥ kṣetre mahīkṣitaḥ

Translation

By the semen of Dīrghatamā in the wife of Bali, the emperor of the world, six sons took birth, namely Aṅga, Vaṅga, Kaliṅga, Suhma, Puṇḍra and Oḍra.

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.

Six Sons Born to Bali’s Wife

  1. 1

    Bali is described as the emperor of the world.

  2. 2

    Six sons were born to Bali’s wife through the semen of Dīrghatamā.

  3. 3

    Their names were Aṅga, Vaṅga, Kaliṅga, Suhma, Puṇḍra and Oḍra.

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:

Begotten by Dīrghatamā in the womb of the wife of Bali were Aṅga, Vaṅga, Kaliṅga, Suhma, Puṇḍra and Oḍra, all of whom became kings. From Aṅga came Khalapāna, whose dynasty included Diviratha, Dharmaratha and Citraratha, also called Romapāda, one after another.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aṅgaAṅga
  2. vaṅgaVaṅga
  3. kaliṅgaKaliṅga
  4. ādyāḥheaded by
  5. suhmaSuhma
  6. puṇḍraPuṇḍra
  7. oḍraOḍra
  8. saṁjñitāḥknown as such
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”

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 does the translation say about the birth of these six sons?

Practice

Read the six sons’ names aloud slowly, then write them down once.

Live this todaySix Sons Born to Bali’s WifeThis 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 9.23.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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