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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

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 7: The Descendants of King Māndhātā

9.7.9 9.7.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.7.10

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.7.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

जात: सुतो ह्यनेनाङ्ग मां यजस्वेति सोऽब्रवीत् ।

यदा पशुर्निर्दश: स्यादथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ १० ॥

jātaḥ suto hy anenāṅga

māṁ yajasveti so ’bravīt

yadā paśur nirdaśaḥ syād

atha medhyo bhaved iti

Translation

Thereafter, when the child was born, Varuṇa approached Hariścandra and said, “Now you have a son. With this son you can offer me a sacrifice.” In answer to this, Hariścandra said, “After ten days have passed since an animal’s birth, the animal becomes fit to be sacrificed.”

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.

Hariścandra Requests a Delay

1
After the child was born, Varuṇa approached Hariścandra and asked him to offer the sacrifice with his son.
2
Hariścandra answered by referring to the age at which an animal becomes fit for sacrifice.
3
He said that ten days must pass after an animal’s birth. His answer postponed the requested sacrifice.

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 7: The Descendants of King Māndhātā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus time passed, and gradually the son grew up. To safeguard his life, the boy then took bow and arrows in hand and went to the forest.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 9.7

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

jātaḥhas been born
sutaḥa son
hiindeed
anenaby this son
aṅgaO Hariścandra
māmunto me
yajasvaoffer sacrifice
itithus

Key ideas in this verse

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

Ūti · The creative impetus
Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.7
In this verse: “child”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What do I notice about Hariścandra’s response when Varuṇa asks him to act?

Practice

Read Varuṇa’s request and Hariścandra’s reply side by side, noting the reason given for waiting.

Live this todayHariścandra Requests a DelayThis 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 9.7.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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