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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
9.7.5-69.7.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.7.7

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

त्रैशङ्कवो हरिश्चन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयो: ।

यन्निमित्तमभूद् युद्धं पक्षिणोर्बहुवार्षिकम् ॥ ७ ॥

traiśaṅkavo hariścandro

viśvāmitra-vasiṣṭhayoḥ

yan-nimittam abhūd yuddhaṁ

pakṣiṇor bahu-vārṣikam

Translation

The son of Triśaṅku was Hariścandra. Because of Hariścandra there was a quarrel between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, who for many years fought one another, having been transformed into birds.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting Offers Escape From Material Misery

  1. 1

    Hariścandra was the son of Triśaṅku. A quarrel concerning him led Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha to curse one another, become birds and fight for many years.

  2. 2

    Even great sages and mystic yogīs face danger in the material world. However elevated one’s material qualities, birth, death, old age and disease remain.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa describes this material world as miserable and temporary. Śrīla Prabhupāda calls the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement the greatest benediction because chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra offers the opportunity to leave this material world.

Key points from the purport
  • Vasiṣṭha, however, did not like this, and therefore a fight arose between Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra.
  • Thus both of them became birds and continued fighting for many years because of Hariścandra.
  • Therefore, because the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement provides the opportunity for the human being to get out of this material world simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, this movement is the greatest benediction in human society.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

Because of this, a quarrel arose between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha. Hariścandra had no sons, but on the advice of Nārada he worshiped Varuṇa and in this way got a son named Rohita.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. traiśaṅkavaḥthe son of Triśaṅku
  2. hariścandraḥby the name Hariścandra
  3. viśvāmitra-vasiṣṭhayoḥbetween Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha
  4. yat-nimittambecause of Hariścandra
  5. abhūtthere was
  6. yuddhama great fight
  7. pakṣiṇoḥboth of whom had been converted into birds
  8. bahu-vārṣikamfor many years
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 9.7

    In this verse: “danger”, “death”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”

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

Am I relying only on material qualities, or making time for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside a quiet minute today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra attentively.

Live this todayChanting Offers Escape From Material MiseryThis 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.

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