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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

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

9.6.41-42 9.6.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.6.43

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मुनि: प्रवेशित: क्षत्रा कन्यान्त:पुरमृद्धिमत् ।

वृत: स राजकन्याभिरेकं पञ्चाशता वर: ॥ ४३ ॥

muniḥ praveśitaḥ kṣatrā

kanyāntaḥpuram ṛddhimat

vṛtaḥ sa rāja-kanyābhir

ekaṁ pañcāśatā varaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, when Saubhari Muni became quite a young and beautiful person, the messenger of the palace took him inside the residential quarters of the princesses, which were extremely opulent. All fifty princesses then accepted him as their husband, although he was only one man.

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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.

All Fifty Princesses Accepted Saubhari

1
Saubhari Muni became a young and beautiful person.
2
The palace messenger brought him into the princesses’ extremely opulent residential quarters.
3
Although Saubhari was only one man, all fifty princesses accepted him as their husband.

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:

Thereafter, Māndhātā became the emperor and ruled the earth, which consists of seven islands. Thieves and rogues were very much afraid of this powerful king, and therefore the king was known as Trasaddasyu, meaning “one who is very fearful to rogues and thieves.”

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.6