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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 9.3.22

Who is speaking and story frame

एवं ब्रुवाणं पितरं स्मयमाना शुचिस्मिता ।

उवाच तात जामाता तवैष भृगुनन्दन: ॥ २२ ॥

evaṁ bruvāṇaṁ pitaraṁ

smayamānā śuci-smitā

uvāca tāta jāmātā

tavaiṣa bhṛgu-nandanaḥ

Translation

Sukanyā, however, being very proud of her chastity, smiled upon hearing the rebukes of her father. She smilingly told him, “My dear father, this young man by my side is your actual son-in-law, the great sage Cyavana, who was born in the family of Bhṛgu.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honesty Gives Confidence Under Rebuke

  1. 1

    Sukanyā’s father chastised her because he assumed she had accepted another husband.

  2. 2

    Knowing that she was completely honest and chaste, Sukanyā smiled rather than becoming distressed by his accusation.

  3. 3

    She explained that the young man was his actual son-in-law, Cyavana, born in the family of Bhṛgu. She was proud of her chastity as she spoke.

Key points from the purport
  • Although the father chastised the daughter, assuming that she had accepted another husband, the daughter knew that she was completely honest and chaste, and therefore she was smiling.
  • When she explained that her husband, Cyavana Muni, had now been transformed into a young man, she was very proud of her chastity, and thus she smiled as she talked with her father.

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

Change → Acceptance. The instability of worldly identities is a recurring premise.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 9: Dynastic origins and domestic transformations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: The Marriage of Sukanyā and Cyavana Muni

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

She then surrendered unto the Aśvinī-kumāras, who were very satisfied with her chastity and who therefore introduced her again to her husband. Cyavana Muni then engaged King Śaryāti in performing the soma-yajña and gave the Aśvinī-kumāras the privilege to drink soma-rasa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamin this way
  2. bruvāṇamwho was talking and chastising her
  3. pitaramunto her father
  4. smayamānāsmiling (because she was chaste)
  5. śuci-smitālaughingly
  6. uvācareplied
  7. tātaO my dear father
  8. jāmātāson-in-law
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 9.3

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 9.3

    In this verse: “proud”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.3

    In this verse: “father”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might a clear conscience help me respond calmly when misunderstood?

Practice

If a misunderstanding arises today, explain the truth gently and clearly.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayHonesty Gives Confidence Under RebukeThis 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 9.3.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.