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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 8: The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva
9.8.49.8.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.8.5-6

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.8.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यस्तालजङ्घान् यवनाञ्छकान् हैहयबर्बरान् ।

नावधीद् गुरुवाक्येन चक्रे विकृतवेषिण: ॥ ५ ॥

मुण्डाञ्छ्मश्रुधरान् कांश्चिन्मुक्तकेशार्धमुण्डितान् ।

अनन्तर्वासस: कांश्चिदबहिर्वाससोऽपरान् ॥ ६ ॥

yas tālajaṅghān yavanāñ

chakān haihaya-barbarān

nāvadhīd guru-vākyena

cakre vikṛta-veṣiṇaḥ

muṇḍāñ chmaśru-dharān kāṁścin

mukta-keśārdha-muṇḍitān

anantar-vāsasaḥ kāṁścid

abahir-vāsaso ’parān

Translation

Sagara Mahārāja, following the order of his spiritual master, Aurva, did not kill the uncivilized men like the Tālajaṅghas, Yavanas, Śakas, Haihayas and Barbaras. Instead, some of them he made dress awkwardly, some of them he shaved clean but allowed to wear mustaches, some of them he left wearing loose hair, some he half shaved, some he left without underwear, and some without external garments. Thus these different clans were made to dress differently, but King Sagara did not kill them.

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 Obeys His Spiritual Master

  1. 1

    Following the order of his spiritual master, Aurva, Sagara Mahārāja did not kill the Tālajaṅghas, Yavanas, Śakas, Haihayas and Barbaras.

  2. 2

    Instead, he imposed different forms of dress and grooming on these clans.

  3. 3

    Although their treatment differed, Sagara spared their lives in obedience to his spiritual master.

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:

Following the instructions of the great sage Aurva, King Sagara reformed many clans, including the Yavanas, Śakas, Haihayas and Barbaras. The king did not kill them, but reformed them.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥMahārāja Sagara who
  2. tālajaṅghānthe uncivilized clan named Tālajaṅgha
  3. yavanānpersons averse to the Vedic literature
  4. śakānanother class of atheist
  5. haihayathe uncivilized
  6. barbarānand the Barbaras
  7. nanot
  8. avadhītdid kill
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.8

    In this verse: “king”

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 Sagara’s restraint show about the influence of his spiritual master’s instruction?

Practice

Write down the action Sagara refrained from because of Aurva’s order.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySagara Obeys His Spiritual MasterThis 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 9.8.5-6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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