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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.
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Canto 9 · Chapter 7: The Descendants of King Māndhātā
9.7.209.7.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.7.21

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

तत: पुरुषमेधेन हरिश्चन्द्रो महायशा: ।

मुक्तोदरोऽयजद् देवान् वरुणादीन् महत्कथ: ॥ २१ ॥

tataḥ puruṣa-medhena

hariścandro mahā-yaśāḥ

muktodaro ’yajad devān

varuṇādīn mahat-kathaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, the famous King Hariścandra, one of the exalted persons in history, performed grand sacrifices by sacrificing a man and pleased all the demigods. In this way his dropsy created by Varuṇa was cured.

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.

Hariścandra’s Sacrifice and Recovery

  1. 1

    Hariścandra is described as a famous king and one of the exalted persons in history.

  2. 2

    He performed grand sacrifices by sacrificing a man and pleased all the demigods.

  3. 3

    In this way, his dropsy caused by Varuṇa was cured.

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:

In this way, the sacrifice was performed, Varuṇa and the other demigods were pacified, and Hariścandra was freed from disease. In this sacrifice, Viśvāmitra was the hotā priest, Jamadagni was the adhvaryu, Vasiṣṭha was the brahmā, and Ayāsya was the udgātā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. puruṣa-medhenaby sacrificing a man in the yajña
  3. hariścandraḥKing Hariścandra
  4. mahā-yaśāḥvery famous
  5. mukta-udaraḥbecame free from dropsy
  6. ayajatoffered sacrifices
  7. devānunto the demigods
  8. varuṇa-ādīnheaded by Varuṇa and others
  9. mahat-kathaḥfamous in history with other exalted personalities
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”

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

What connection does the translation describe between the sacrifice and Hariścandra’s recovery?

Practice

Reread the translation and note the action and its two stated results.

Live this todayHariścandra’s Sacrifice and RecoveryThis 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 9.7.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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