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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
9.7.229.7.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.7.23

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

तस्मै तुष्टो ददाविन्द्र: शातकौम्भमयं रथम् ।

शुन:शेफस्य माहात्म्यमुपरिष्टात् प्रचक्ष्यते ॥ २३ ॥

tasmai tuṣṭo dadāv indraḥ

śātakaumbhamayaṁ ratham

śunaḥśephasya māhātmyam

upariṣṭāt pracakṣyate

Translation

King Indra, being very pleased with Hariścandra, offered him a gift of a golden chariot. Śunaḥśepha’s glories will be presented along with the description of the son of Viśvāmitra.

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.

Indra’s Gift and Glories Yet to Come

  1. 1

    King Indra was very pleased with Hariścandra.

  2. 2

    Indra expressed his pleasure by giving Hariścandra a golden chariot.

  3. 3

    The account of Śunaḥśepha’s glories is reserved for the description of the son of Viśvāmitra.

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:

King Indra, being very satisfied by the sacrifice, gave Hariścandra a golden chariot, and Viśvāmitra gave him transcendental knowledge. Thus Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes how Hariścandra achieved perfection.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmaiunto him, King Hariścandra
  2. tuṣṭaḥbeing very pleased
  3. dadaudelivered
  4. indraḥthe King of heaven
  5. śātakaumbha-mayammade of gold
  6. rathama chariot
  7. śunaḥśephasyaabout Śunaḥśepha
  8. māhātmyamglories
  9. upariṣṭātin the course of describing the sons of Viśvāmitra
  10. pracakṣyatewill be narrated
3

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

  • 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

Can I patiently accept that the account of Śunaḥśepha’s glories will be given later?

Practice

Write one sentence recalling who gave the golden chariot, to whom, and why.

Live this todayIndra’s Gift and Glories Yet to ComeThis 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 9.7.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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