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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 6: The Downfall of Saubhari Muni
9.6.259.6.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.6.26

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भार्याशतेन निर्विण्ण ऋषयोऽस्य कृपालव: ।

इष्टिं स्म वर्तयांचक्रुरैन्द्रीं ते सुसमाहिता: ॥ २६ ॥

bhāryā-śatena nirviṇṇa

ṛṣayo ’sya kṛpālavaḥ

iṣṭiṁ sma vartayāṁ cakrur

aindrīṁ te susamāhitāḥ

Translation

Although Yuvanāśva went into the forest with his one hundred wives, all of them were very morose. The sages in the forest, however, being very kind to the King, began very carefully and attentively performing an Indra-yajña so that the King might have a son.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Retirement Means Leaving Household Life

  1. 1

    One may enter the vānaprastha order with one’s wife, but this order means complete retirement from household life.

  2. 2

    Although Yuvanāśva retired with his one hundred wives, they remained morose because he had no son.

  3. 3

    The forest sages showed kindness to the King. They carefully and attentively performed an Indra-yajña so that he might have a son.

Key points from the purport
  • One may enter the vānaprastha order of life with his wife, but the vānaprastha order means complete retirement from household life.
  • Although King Yuvanāśva retired from family life, he and his wives were always morose because he had no son.

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

Attachment and struggle → Renunciation and responsibility. Multiple royal lives reveal the cost of choices.

Chapters 6–9 of Canto 9: Saubhari, Sagara and Bhagīratha's lineage. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 6: The Downfall of Saubhari Muni

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Once, however, the King became so thirsty in the forest that he drank the water kept for performing yajña. Consequently, after some time, a son came forth from the right side of his abdomen.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhāryā-śatenawith one hundred wives
  2. nirviṇṇaḥvery morose
  3. ṛṣayaḥthe sages (in the forest)
  4. asyaupon him
  5. kṛpālavaḥvery merciful
  6. iṣṭima ritualistic ceremony
  7. smain the past
  8. vartayām cakruḥbegan to execute
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 9.6

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.6

    In this verse: “household”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 9.6

    In this verse: “kindness”

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

Have you ever changed your surroundings while still carrying the same longing?

Practice

Take a quiet minute to notice one longing that remains with you even when your circumstances change.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRetirement Means Leaving Household LifeThis 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.

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