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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 7: The Descendants of King Māndhātā

9.7.15 9.7.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.7.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

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

रोहितस्तदभिज्ञाय पितु: कर्म चिकीर्षितम् ।

प्राणप्रेप्सुर्धनुष्पाणिररण्यं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ १६ ॥

rohitas tad abhijñāya

pituḥ karma cikīrṣitam

prāṇa-prepsur dhanuṣ-pāṇir

araṇyaṁ pratyapadyata

Translation

Rohita could understand that his father intended to offer him as the animal for sacrifice. Therefore, just to save himself from death, he equipped himself with bow and arrows and went to the forest.

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.

Rohita Leaves to Save His Life

1
Rohita understood that his father intended to offer him as the animal for sacrifice.
2
He wished to save himself from death.
3
He equipped himself with bow and arrows and went to the forest.

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:

To safeguard his life, the boy then took bow and arrows in hand and went to the forest. Meanwhile, at home, Hariścandra suffered from dropsy because of an attack from Varuṇa.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

rohitaḥthe son of Hariścandra
tatthis fact
abhijñāyahaving thoroughly understood
pituḥof his father
karmaaction
cikīrṣitamwhich he was practically doing
prāṇa-prepsuḥwishing to save his life
dhanuḥ-pāṇiḥtaking his bow and arrows
araṇyamto the forest
pratyapadyataleft

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
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.7
In this verse: “death”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.7
In this verse: “father”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.7
In this verse: “understand”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does understanding Rohita’s danger help me understand his departure?

Practice

Reread the verse and summarize Rohita’s reason for leaving in one sentence.

Live this todayRohita Leaves to Save His LifeThis 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 9.7.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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