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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 8: The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva
9.8.39.8.5-6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.8.4

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.8.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आज्ञायास्यै सपत्नीभिर्गरो दत्तोऽन्धसा सह ।

सह तेनैव सञ्जात: सगराख्यो महायशा: ।

सगरश्चक्रवर्त्यासीत् सागरो यत्सुतै: कृत: ॥ ४ ॥

ājñāyāsyai sapatnībhir

garo datto ’ndhasā saha

saha tenaiva sañjātaḥ

sagarākhyo mahā-yaśāḥ

sagaraś cakravarty āsīt

sāgaro yat-sutaiḥ kṛtaḥ

Translation

Knowing that she was pregnant, the co-wives of the wife of Bāhuka conspired to give her poison with her food, but it did not act. Instead, the son was born along with the poison. Therefore he became famous as Sagara [“one who is born with poison”]. Sagara later became the emperor. The place known as Gaṅgāsāgara was excavated by his sons.

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.

Sagara Is Born Despite Poison

  1. 1

    Knowing that Bāhuka’s wife was pregnant, her co-wives gave her poison with her food. The poison did not act.

  2. 2

    Her son was born along with the poison and became famous as Sagara, meaning “one who is born with poison.”

  3. 3

    Sagara later became emperor. His sons excavated the place known as Gaṅgāsāgara.

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:

The co-wives of this wife of Bāhuka gave her poison with her food, but still her son was born with the poison. The son was therefore named Sagara ( sa means “with,” and gara means “poison”).
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ājñāyaknowing (this)
  2. asyaiunto that pregnant queen
  3. sapatnībhiḥby the co-wives of the wife of Bāhuka
  4. garaḥpoison
  5. dattaḥwas given
  6. andhasā sahawith her food
  7. saha tenawith that poison
  8. evaalso
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.8

    In this verse: “emperor”

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 does Sagara’s name preserve the circumstances of his birth?

Practice

Write the meaning of Sagara’s name beside a brief note about his birth.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySagara Is Born Despite PoisonThis 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 9.8.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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