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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 ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 7: The Descendants of King Māndhātā
9.7.169.7.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.7.17

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

पितरं वरुणग्रस्तं श्रुत्वा जातमहोदरम् ।

रोहितो ग्राममेयाय तमिन्द्र: प्रत्यषेधत ॥ १७ ॥

pitaraṁ varuṇa-grastaṁ

śrutvā jāta-mahodaram

rohito grāmam eyāya

tam indraḥ pratyaṣedhata

Translation

When Rohita heard that his father had been attacked by dropsy due to Varuṇa and that his abdomen had grown very large, he wanted to return to the capital, but King Indra forbade him to do so.

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.

Concern Prompts Rohita to Return

  1. 1

    Rohita heard that his father had been attacked by dropsy due to Varuṇa.

  2. 2

    His father’s abdomen had grown very large, and Rohita wanted to return to the capital.

  3. 3

    King Indra forbade Rohita to return.

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:

When Rohita received the news that his father was suffering, he wanted to return to the capital, but King Indra prevented him from doing so. Following the instructions of Indra, Rohita lived in the forest for six years and then returned home.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pitaramabout his father
  2. varuṇa-grastamhaving been attacked with dropsy by Varuṇa
  3. śrutvāafter hearing
  4. jātahad grown
  5. mahā-udaraminflated abdomen
  6. rohitaḥhis son Rohita
  7. grāmam eyāyawanted to come back to the capital
  8. tamunto him (Rohita)
  9. indraḥKing Indra
  10. pratyaṣedhataforbade to go there
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.7

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 9.7

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.7

    In this verse: “father”

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

How do I respond when I hear that someone close to me is ill?

Practice

Send a brief, caring message to someone whose health concerns you.

Live this todayConcern Prompts Rohita to ReturnThis 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 9.7.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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