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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.7.12

Who is speaking and story frame

दन्ता जाता यजस्वेति स प्रत्याहाथ सोऽब्रवीत् ।

यदा पतन्त्यस्य दन्ता अथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ १२ ॥

dantā jātā yajasveti

sa pratyāhātha so ’bravīt

yadā patanty asya dantā

atha medhyo bhaved iti

Translation

When the teeth grew, Varuṇa came and said to Hariścandra, “Now the animal has grown teeth, and you can perform the sacrifice.” Hariścandra replied, “When all its teeth have fallen out, then it will be fit for sacrifice.”

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Another Condition Delays the Sacrifice

  1. 1

    When the teeth grew, Varuṇa came to Hariścandra and asked him to perform the sacrifice.

  2. 2

    Hariścandra replied that the sacrificial animal would be fit when all its teeth had fallen out.

  3. 3

    Instead of performing the sacrifice, Hariścandra set a later condition.

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 7: The Descendants of King Māndhātā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Hariścandra promised that Rohita would be used to perform a Varuṇa-yajña. Varuṇa reminded Hariścandra repeatedly about this yajña, but the King, because of affection for his son, gave various arguments to avoid sacrificing him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dantāḥthe teeth
  2. jātāḥhave grown
  3. yajasvanow sacrifice
  4. itithus
  5. saḥhe, Varuṇa
  6. pratyāhasaid
  7. athathereupon
  8. saḥhe, Hariścandra
3

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

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

Do I sometimes set a new condition when the time comes to act?

Practice

Notice one task you have delayed and write down the condition you are waiting for.

Live this todayAnother Condition Delays the SacrificeThis 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 9.7.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.