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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 8: The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva
9.8.9-109.8.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.8.11

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.8.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स्वशरीराग्निना तावन्महेन्द्रहृतचेतस: ।

महद्‌व्य‌तिक्रमहता भस्मसादभवन् क्षणात् ॥ ११ ॥

sva-śarīrāgninā tāvan

mahendra-hṛta-cetasaḥ

mahad-vyatikrama-hatā

bhasmasād abhavan kṣaṇāt

Translation

By the influence of Indra, the King of heaven, the sons of Sagara had lost their intelligence and disrespected a great personality. Consequently, fire emanated from their own bodies, and they were immediately burned to ashes.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Disrespect Brings Destruction from Within

  1. 1

    By Indra’s influence, Sagara’s sons lost their intelligence and disrespected a great personality.

  2. 2

    The material body is a combination of earth, water, fire, air and ether. Fire is already present within the body, and its heat can increase or decrease.

  3. 3

    Their misbehavior toward a great personality is called mahad-vyatikrama. Because of this insult, the fire within their own bodies became so hot that they burned to ashes.

Key points from the purport
  • The material body is a combination of earth, water, fire, air and ether.
  • The fire within the bodies of the sons of Sagara Mahārāja became so much hotter that all of them burned to ashes.
  • They were killed by the fire of their own bodies because of insulting a great personality.

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 8: The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then, again following the instructions of Aurva, King Sagara performed aśvamedha sacrifices, but the horse needed for such a sacrifice was stolen by Indra, the King of heaven. King Sagara had two wives, named Sumati and Keśinī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sva-śarīra-agnināby the fire emanating from their own bodies
  2. tāvatimmediately
  3. mahendraby the tricks of Indra, the King of heaven
  4. hṛta-cetasaḥtheir consciousness having been taken away
  5. mahata great personality
  6. vyatikrama-hatāḥdefeated by the fault of insulting
  7. bhasmasātturned to ashes
  8. abhavanbecame
  9. kṣaṇātimmediately
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 9.8

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 9.8

    In this verse: “material”

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 can you become more careful about disrespectful speech toward a great personality?

Practice

Pause before making a critical remark today, and check whether it expresses needless disrespect.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDisrespect Brings Destruction from WithinThis 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 9.8.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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