1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter

Canto

Canto 9 · Liberation · 24 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

9.6.27 9.6.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.6.28

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

उत्थितास्ते निशम्याथ व्युदकं कलशं प्रभो ।

पप्रच्छु: कस्य कर्मेदं पीतं पुंसवनं जलम् ॥ २८ ॥

utthitās te niśamyātha

vyudakaṁ kalaśaṁ prabho

papracchuḥ kasya karmedaṁ

pītaṁ puṁsavanaṁ jalam

Translation

When the brāhmaṇas got up from bed and saw the waterpot empty, they inquired who had done this work of drinking the water meant for begetting a child.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Brāhmaṇas Inquire About the Missing Water

1
When the brāhmaṇas awoke, they saw that the waterpot was empty.
2
The water had been meant for begetting a child.
3
They inquired who had drunk it.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.6

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

utthitāḥafter awakening
teall of them
niśamyaseeing
athathereafter
vyudakamempty
kalaśamthe waterpot
prabhoO King Parīkṣit
papracchuḥinquired

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 9.6
In this verse: “child”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.6
In this verse: “inquired”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When you find something unexpected, do you first ask what happened?

Practice

When something unexpected happens today, ask a calm question before drawing a conclusion.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Brāhmaṇas Inquire About the Missing WaterThis 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 9.6.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories