Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 9 Chapter 6 Verses 39-40

Canto 9: Liberation | Chapter 6: The Downfall of Saubhari Muni

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 9.6.39-40

yamunāntar-jale magnas

tapyamānaḥ paraḿ tapaḥ

nirvṛtiḿ mīna-rājasya

dṛṣṭvā maithuna-dharmiṇaḥ

jāta-spṛho nṛpaḿ vipraḥ

kanyām ekām ayācata

so 'py āha gṛhyatāḿ brahman

kāmaḿ kanyā svayaḿvare

SYNONYMS

yamunā-antaḥ-jale — in the deep water of the River Yamunā; magnaḥ — merged completely; tapyamānaḥ — executing austerities; param — uncommon; tapaḥ — austerity; nirvṛtim — pleasure; mīna-rājasya — of a big fish; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; maithuna-dharmiṇaḥ — engaged in sexual affairs; jāta-spṛhaḥ — became sexually inclined; nṛpam — unto the King (Māndhātā); vipraḥ — the brāhmaṇa (Saubhari Ṛṣi); kanyām ekām — one daughter; ayācata — begged for; saḥ — he, the King; api — also; āha — said; gṛhyatām — you can take; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; kāmam — as she desires; kanyā — daughter; svayaḿvare — a personal selection.

TRANSLATION

Saubhari Ṛṣi was engaged in austerity, deep in the water of the River Yamunā, when he saw a pair of fish engaged in sexual affairs. Thus he perceived the pleasure of sex life, and induced by this desire he went to King Māndhātā and begged for one of the King's daughters. In response to this request, the King said, "O brāhmaṇa, any of my daughters may accept any husband according to her personal selection."

PURPORT

This is the beginning of the story of Saubhari Ṛṣi. According to Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Māndhātā was the king of Mathurā, and Saubhari Ṛṣi was engaged in austerity while submerged deep within the River Yamunā. When the ṛṣi felt sexual desire, he emerged from the water and went to King Māndhātā to ask that one of the King's daughters become his wife.

<<< >>>

Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness