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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 24: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
9.24.149.24.16-18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.24.15

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.24.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्वफल्कश्चित्ररथश्च गान्दिन्यां च श्वफल्कत: ।

अक्रूरप्रमुखा आसन् पुत्रा द्वादश विश्रुता: ॥ १५ ॥

śvaphalkaś citrarathaś ca

gāndinyāṁ ca śvaphalkataḥ

akrūra-pramukhā āsan

putrā dvādaśa viśrutāḥ

Translation

From Vṛṣṇi came the sons named Śvaphalka and Citraratha. From Śvaphalka by his wife Gāndinī came Akrūra. Akrūra was the eldest, but there were twelve other sons, all of whom were most celebrated.

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.

Akrūra and His Celebrated Family

  1. 1

    Vṛṣṇi had two sons named Śvaphalka and Citraratha.

  2. 2

    Akrūra was born to Śvaphalka and his wife Gāndinī.

  3. 3

    Akrūra was the eldest of thirteen sons. His twelve brothers were all most celebrated.

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 24: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

From Vṛṣṇi came Śvaphalka, by whom Akrūra and twelve other sons were generated. From Akrūra came two sons, named Devavān and Upadeva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śvaphalkaḥŚvaphalka
  2. citrarathaḥ caand Citraratha
  3. gāndinyāmthrough the wife named Gāndinī
  4. caand
  5. śvaphalkataḥfrom Śvaphalka
  6. akrūraAkrūra
  7. pramukhāḥheaded by
  8. āsanthere were
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

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

Which family relationships in this verse can I now recall clearly?

Practice

Today, draw a small family tree showing Vṛṣṇi, his two sons, Gāndinī and Akrūra.

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 9.24's connections

Live this todayAkrūra and His Celebrated FamilyThis 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 9.24.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.