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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
9.7.49.7.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.7.5-6

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

तस्य सत्यव्रत: पुत्रस्त्रिशङ्कुरिति विश्रुत: ।

प्राप्तश्चाण्डालतां शापाद् गुरो: कौशिकतेजसा ॥ ५ ॥

सशरीरो गत: स्वर्गमद्यापि दिवि द‍ृश्यते ।

पातितोऽवाक् शिरा देवैस्तेनैव स्तम्भितो बलात् ॥ ६ ॥

tasya satyavrataḥ putras

triśaṅkur iti viśrutaḥ

prāptaś cāṇḍālatāṁ śāpād

guroḥ kauśika-tejasā

saśarīro gataḥ svargam

adyāpi divi dṛśyate

pātito ’vāk-śirā devais

tenaiva stambhito balāt

Translation

The son of Tribandhana was Satyavrata, who is celebrated by the name Triśaṅku. Because he kidnapped the daughter of a brāhmaṇa when she was being married, his father cursed him to become a caṇḍāla, lower than a śūdra. Thereafter, by the influence of Viśvāmitra, he went to the higher planetary system, the heavenly planets, in his material body, but because of the prowess of the demigods he fell back downward. Nonetheless, by the power of Viśvāmitra, he did not fall all the way down; even today he can still be seen hanging in the sky, head downward.

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.

Triśaṅku’s Ascent and Fall

  1. 1

    Tribandhana’s son Satyavrata is celebrated as Triśaṅku. Because he kidnapped a brāhmaṇa’s daughter during her marriage, his father cursed him to become a caṇḍāla, described here as lower than a śūdra.

  2. 2

    By Viśvāmitra’s influence, Triśaṅku reached the heavenly planets in his material body. The prowess of the demigods caused him to fall downward.

  3. 3

    Viśvāmitra’s power stopped him from falling all the way down. The translation describes him as still hanging in the sky, head downward.

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 Triśaṅku kidnapped the daughter of a brāhmaṇa, his father cursed him for this sinful act, and Triśaṅku became a caṇḍāla, worse than a śūdra. Later, by the influence of Viśvāmitra, he was brought to the heavenly planets, but by the influence of the demigods he fell back downward.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaof Tribandhana
  2. satyavrataḥby the name Satyavrata
  3. putraḥthe son
  4. triśaṅkuḥby the name Triśaṅku
  5. itithus
  6. viśrutaḥcelebrated
  7. prāptaḥhad obtained
  8. cāṇḍālatāmthe quality of a caṇḍāla, lower than a śūdra
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.7

    In this verse: “material”

  • 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

What does Triśaṅku’s punishment lead me to consider about the consequences of harming others?

Practice

Pause before one action today and consider whether it could harm someone else.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 9.7's connections

Live this todayTriśaṅku’s Ascent and FallThis 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 9.7.5-6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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