Brahmā Satisfies Lord Śiva

Brahmā and the demigods approach Lord Śiva, asking him to show mercy.

Themes of SB 4.6Moha5 Dainya3 Karuṇā3 Śuddhi3 from its story phase

Connected storiesKubjā (Trivakrā)Lord Vāmana and Bali MahārājaThe four KumārasAjāmila

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Lord Śiva, Vīrabhadra, Dakṣa, Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu

The story · Hearing of Satī’s death, Lord Śiva became greatly angry, and his soldiers attacked the sacrifice. They destroyed the arena, and Vīrabhadra beheaded Dakṣa. Brahmā and the demigods approached Lord Śiva, and Brahmā asked him to show compassion toward those bewildered by material illusion. Pacified, Lord Śiva returned with them to the sacrificial place, where Dakṣa acknowledged his offense and accepted the punishment as mercy. Lord Viṣṇu appeared and accepted the offerings, and Dakṣa worshiped Him, then separately worshiped Brahmā and Lord Śiva.

What it teaches · Dakṣa recognizes mercy even in correction for his offense. Lord Viṣṇu is the enjoyer of all sacrifices and the Supersoul of all living entities.

SB 4.6.49 SB 4.7.13 SB 4.7.49 Read chapter 5 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

Kubjā (Trivakrā)

SB 10.41–44 · Mathurā and the fall of Kaṁsa

What it teaches · Hearing about Kṛṣṇa had already awakened the Mathurā women’s attraction to Him. The women in the arena also teach that one should not remain where irreligion is flourishing.

There are other trees also which decorate the hill, such as the golden lotus flower, the cinnamon tree, mālatī, kubja, mallikā and mādhavī.
In the verse · SB 4.6.16 (Text 16)

Read the story in SB 10.41–44

Lord Vāmana and Bali Mahārāja

SB 8.15 · Bali conquers heaven SB 8.18–20 · Vāmanadeva asks for three paces SB 8.21–23 · Bali offers himself to the Lord

What it teaches · Bali’s strength came through the brāhmaṇas’ blessings. The text warns that disrespect toward them would later bring the loss of his opulence.

…he immediately stood up and offered him respect by bowing down and touching his lotus feet, just as Vāmanadeva offered His respectful obeisances to Kaśyapa Muni.
In the verse · SB 4.6.40 (Text 40)

Kaśyapa Muni was in the category of the living entities, but he had a transcendental son, Vāmanadeva, who was an incarnation of Viṣṇu.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.6.40 (Text 40)

Read the story in SB 8.15

The four Kumāras

SB 3.15–16 · The doorkeepers’ fall SB 4.21–23 · Pṛthu’s life of devoted service SB 11.13 · The Lord teaches as Haṁsa

What it teaches · The Lord’s conduct shows how dearly He values the brāhmaṇas and how seriously He regards disrespect toward them. Even while facing punishment, the doorkeepers sought the shelter of remembering Him.

Lord Śiva sat there, surrounded by saintly persons like Kuvera, the master of the Guhyakas, and the four Kumāras, who were already liberated souls.
In the verse · SB 4.6.34 (Text 34)

The personalities sitting with Lord Śiva are significant because the four Kumāras were liberated from birth.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.6.34 (Text 34)

Read the story in SB 3.15–16

Ajāmila

SB 6.1–2 · Ajāmila’s deliverance SB 6.3 · Yamarāja instructs his messengers

What it teaches · Chanting the Lord’s holy name is true atonement. Service to the Lord’s lotus feet removes the material desires that other methods of atonement cannot uproot.

…but it sometimes so happens that a miscreant like Ajāmila is immediately promoted to the Vaikuṇṭhaloka simply by chanting the name of Nārāyaṇa.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.6.45 (Text 45)

Read the story in SB 6.1–2

Other Bhāgavatam verses Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes here

Next in Learn · 4 of 11 · 5 minStudy a verseOne verse with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and three study points from the purport.Back · LearnPreface & Introduction