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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 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 1 · Chapter 4: The Appearance of Śrī Nārada
1.4.131.4.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.4.14inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

द्वापरे समनुप्राप्ते तृतीये युगपर्यये ।

जात: पराशराद्योगी वासव्यां कलया हरे: ॥ १४ ॥

sūta uvāca

dvāpare samanuprāpte

tṛtīye yuga-paryaye

jātaḥ parāśarād yogī

vāsavyāṁ kalayā hareḥ

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: When the second millennium overlapped the third, the great sage [Vyāsadeva] was born to Parāśara in the womb of Satyavatī, the daughter of Vasu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vyāsadeva Appeared at a Special Time

  1. 1

    Vyāsadeva was born to the great Parāśara Muni and Satyavatī, the daughter of Vasu. Sūta Gosvāmī describes the history of his birth.

  2. 2

    During the twenty-eighth round of the four millenniums under Vaivasvata Manu, the third millennium appeared before the second. The purport connects this particular alteration with Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa's descent.

  3. 3

    Each millennium is divided into three periods called sandhyās. Vyāsadeva appeared in the third sandhyā of that particular age.

Key points from the purport
  • During the regime of Vaivasvata Manu, there was an overlapping of the twenty-eighth round of the four millenniums, and the third millennium appeared prior to the second.
  • The mother of the great sage was Satyavatī, the daughter of the Vasu (fisherman), and the father was the great Parāśara Muni.
  • Vyāsadeva appeared in the third sandhyā of that particular age.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Dissatisfaction → Inspired clarity. Even great accomplishment leaves Vyāsa without contentment until devotion is centered.

Chapters 4–6 of Canto 1: Vyāsa is dissatisfied; Nārada directs him to the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: The Appearance of Śrī Nārada

The sages inquire about Parīkṣit, while Sūta describes Vyāsadeva’s division of the Vedas and dissatisfaction.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥSūta Gosvāmī
  2. uvācasaid
  3. dvāparein the second millennium
  4. samanuprāpteon the advent of
  5. tṛtīyethird
  6. yugamillennium
  7. paryayein the place of
  8. jātaḥwas begotten
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I taking time to understand the setting of Vyāsadeva's appearance rather than rushing past it?

Practice

Write a brief note naming Vyāsadeva's parents and the period in which he appeared.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVyāsadeva Appeared at a Special TimeThis 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 1.4.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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