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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 6: The Downfall of Saubhari Muni
9.6.269.6.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.6.27

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राजा तद् यज्ञसदनं प्रविष्टो निशि तर्षित: ।

द‍ृष्ट्वा शयानान् विप्रांस्तान् पपौ मन्त्रजलं स्वयम् ॥ २७ ॥

rājā tad-yajña-sadanaṁ

praviṣṭo niśi tarṣitaḥ

dṛṣṭvā śayānān viprāṁs tān

papau mantra-jalaṁ svayam

Translation

Being thirsty one night, the King entered the arena of sacrifice, and when he saw all the brāhmaṇas lying down, he personally drank the sanctified water meant to be drunk by his wife.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sanctified Water and the Working of Providence

  1. 1

    Yajñas performed by brāhmaṇas according to Vedic ritualistic ceremonies are potent. Water sanctified by Vedic mantras can bring about the desired result.

  2. 2

    The brāhmaṇas had sanctified the water for the King’s wife to drink in the yajña.

  3. 3

    By providence, the thirsty King entered the sacrificial arena at night. While the brāhmaṇas were lying down, he drank the water himself.

Key points from the purport
  • Yajñas performed by brāhmaṇas according to Vedic ritualistic ceremonies are so potent that the sanctifying of water by Vedic mantras can bring about the desired result.
  • In this instance, the brāhmaṇas sanctified the water so that the King’s wife might drink it in the yajña, but by providence the King himself went there at night and, being thirsty, drank the water.

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. rājāthe King (Yuvanāśva)
  2. tat-yajña-sadanamthe arena of sacrifice
  3. praviṣṭaḥentered
  4. niśiat night
  5. tarṣitaḥbeing thirsty
  6. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  7. śayānānlying down
  8. viprānall the brāhmaṇas
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.6

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

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 the purport distinguish the intended plan from what happened by providence?

Practice

Reread the purport and identify the intended use of the water and the unexpected event.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySanctified Water and the Working of ProvidenceThis 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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