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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
9.8.5-69.8.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.8.7

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

सोऽश्वमेधैरयजत सर्ववेदसुरात्मकम् ।

और्वोपदिष्टयोगेन हरिमात्मानमीश्वरम् ।

तस्योत्सृष्टं पशुं यज्ञे जहाराश्वं पुरन्दर: ॥ ७ ॥

so ’śvamedhair ayajata

sarva-veda-surātmakam

aurvopadiṣṭa-yogena

harim ātmānam īśvaram

tasyotsṛṣṭaṁ paśuṁ yajñe

jahārāśvaṁ purandaraḥ

Translation

Following the instructions of the great sage Aurva, Sagara Mahārāja performed aśvamedha sacrifices and thus satisfied the Supreme Lord, who is the supreme controller, the Supersoul of all learned scholars, and the knower of all Vedic knowledge, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But Indra, the King of heaven, stole the horse meant to be offered at the sacrifice.

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.

Worship Aims to Satisfy the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Following Aurva’s instructions, Sagara Mahārāja performed aśvamedha sacrifices and satisfied the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    The Lord is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller, the Supersoul of all learned scholars, and the knower of all Vedic knowledge.

  3. 3

    Indra, the King of heaven, stole the horse intended for the sacrifice.

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. saḥhe, Mahārāja Sagara
  2. aśvamedhaiḥby performing aśvamedha-yajñas
  3. ayajataworshiped
  4. sarva-vedaof all Vedic knowledge
  5. suraand of all learned sages
  6. ātmakamthe Supersoul
  7. aurva-upadiṣṭa-yogenaby the mystic yoga practice advised by Aurva
  8. harimunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 9.8

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 remembering the aim of satisfying the Supreme Lord shape your worship?

Practice

Offer a short prayer today with the intention of satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship Aims to Satisfy the Supreme LordThis 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 9.8.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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