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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
9.8.15-169.8.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.8.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.8.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं वृत्त: परित्यक्त: पित्रा स्‍नेहमपोह्य वै ।

योगैश्वर्येण बालांस्तान् दर्शयित्वा ततो ययौ ॥ १७ ॥

evaṁ vṛttaḥ parityaktaḥ

pitrā sneham apohya vai

yogaiśvaryeṇa bālāṁs tān

darśayitvā tato yayau

Translation

Because Asamañjasa engaged in such abominable activities, his father gave up affection for him and had him exiled. Then Asamañjasa exhibited his mystic power by reviving the boys and showing them to the King and their parents. After this, Asamañjasa left Ayodhyā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Asamañjasa Revives the Boys and Leaves

  1. 1

    Because of Asamañjasa’s abominable activities, his father gave up affection for him and had him exiled.

  2. 2

    Asamañjasa was a jāti-smara who retained his previous consciousness through mystic power. He could therefore give life to the dead.

  3. 3

    He revived the boys and showed them to the King and their parents, attracting everyone’s attention. Then he immediately left Ayodhyā.

Key points from the purport
  • Asamañjasa was a jāti-smara; because of his mystic power, he did not forget his previous consciousness.
  • Thus he could give life to the dead.
  • By exhibiting wonderful activities in relation to the dead children, he certainly attracted the attention of the King and the people in general.

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:

Keśinī, the second wife of King Sagara, had a son named Asamañjasa, whose son Aṁśumān later searched for the horse and delivered his uncles. Upon approaching Kapiladeva, Aṁśumān saw both the horse meant for sacrifice and a pile of ashes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evam vṛttaḥthus engaged (in abominable activities)
  2. parityaktaḥcondemned
  3. pitrāby his father
  4. snehamaffection
  5. apohyagiving up
  6. vaiindeed
  7. yoga-aiśvaryeṇaby mystic power
  8. bālān tānall those boys (thrown in the water and killed)
  9. darśayitvāafter again showing them all to their parents
  10. tataḥ yayauhe left that place
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 9.8

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 9.8

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.8

    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

How might my actions affect the people who care for me?

Practice

Before one action today, pause and consider whether it will cause distress to others.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAsamañjasa Revives the Boys and LeavesThis 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 9.8.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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