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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
1.4.17-181.4.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.19

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.4.14inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

चातुर्होत्रं कर्म शुद्धं प्रजानां वीक्ष्य वैदिकम् ।

व्यदधाद्यज्ञसन्तत्यै वेदमेकं चतुर्विधम् ॥ १९ ॥

cātur-hotraṁ karma śuddhaṁ

prajānāṁ vīkṣya vaidikam

vyadadhād yajña-santatyai

vedam ekaṁ catur-vidham

Translation

He saw that the sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas were means by which the people’s occupations could be purified. And to simplify the process he divided the one Veda into four, in order to expand them among men.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vedic Knowledge Made Easier to Follow

  1. 1

    Vyāsadeva saw that Vedic sacrifices could purify people's occupational work. He divided the one Veda into four to make these sacrifices easier to perform.

  2. 2

    Śrī Vyāsadeva and his disciples were kind and sympathetic toward the fallen souls of the Age of Kali. The Purāṇas and Mahābhārata explain Vedic teachings through related historical facts.

  3. 3

    The Purāṇas, Mahābhārata and other such works are known as the fifth Veda. Their authority as parts of the Vedas should not be doubted.

Key points from the purport
  • Formerly there was only the Veda of the name Yajur, and the four divisions of sacrifices were there specifically mentioned.
  • Above the four Vedas, namely Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva, there are the Purāṇas, the Mahābhārata, Saṁhitās, etc., which are known as the fifth Veda.
  • As such, the Purāṇas and Mahābhārata were made from related historical facts which explained the teaching of the four Vedas.

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. cātuḥfour
  2. hotramsacrificial fires
  3. karma śuddhampurification of work
  4. prajānāmof the people in general
  5. vīkṣyaafter seeing
  6. vaidikamaccording to Vedic rites
  7. vyadadhātmade into
  8. yajñasacrifice
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “purified”, “purify”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does seeing the kindness behind these scriptures affect my willingness to study them?

Practice

Choose one sentence from this purport and summarize how it shows compassion for learners.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVedic Knowledge Made Easier to FollowThis 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 1.4.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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