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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
9.24.469.24.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.24.47-48

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The sun-godsince 9.24.34inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सुभद्रो भद्रबाहुश्च दुर्मदो भद्र एव च । पौरव्यास्तनया ह्येते भूताद्या द्वादशाभवन् ॥ ४७ ॥ नन्दोपनन्दकृतकशूराद्या मदिरात्मजा: । कौशल्या केशिनं त्वेकमसूत कुलनन्दनम् ॥ ४८ ॥

subhadro bhadrabāhuś ca

durmado bhadra eva ca

pauravyās tanayā hy ete

bhūtādyā dvādaśābhavan

nandopananda-kṛtaka-

śūrādyā madirātmajāḥ

kauśalyā keśinaṁ tv ekam

asūta kula-nandanam

Translation

From the womb of Pauravī came twelve sons, including Bhūta, Subhadra, Bhadrabāhu, Durmada and Bhadra. Nanda, Upananda, Kṛtaka, Śūra and others were born from the womb of Madirā. Bhadrā [Kauśalyā] gave birth to only one son, named Keśī.

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 Sons of Three Mothers

  1. 1

    Pauravī had twelve sons, including Bhūta, Subhadra, Bhadrabāhu, Durmada and Bhadra.

  2. 2

    Madirā’s sons included Nanda, Upananda, Kṛtaka, Śūra and others.

  3. 3

    Bhadrā, also called Kauśalyā, gave birth to only one son, Keśī.

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 the womb of Rohiṇī, Baladeva was born, along with Gada, Sāraṇa, Durmada, Vipula, Dhruva, Kṛta and others. Vasudeva had many other sons by his other wives, and the eighth son to appear from the womb of Devakī was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who delivered the entire world from the burden of demons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. subhadraḥSubhadra
  2. bhadrabāhuḥBhadrabāhu
  3. caand
  4. durmadaḥDurmada
  5. bhadraḥBhadra
  6. evaindeed
  7. caalso
  8. pauravyāḥof the wife named Pauravī
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.24

    In this verse: “nanda”

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 grouping the sons by their mothers help you understand this passage?

Practice

Make three short lists, one for each mother, using only the sons named here.

Live this todayThe Sons of Three MothersThis 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 9.24.47-48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.