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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.4.201.4.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.21

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

तत्रर्ग्वेदधर: पैल: सामगो जैमिनि: कवि: ।

वैशम्पायन एवैको निष्णातो यजुषामुत ॥ २१ ॥

tatrarg-veda-dharaḥ pailaḥ

sāmago jaiminiḥ kaviḥ

vaiśampāyana evaiko

niṣṇāto yajuṣām uta

Translation

After the Vedas were divided into four divisions, Paila Ṛṣi became the professor of the Ṛg Veda, Jaimini the professor of the Sāma Veda, and Vaiśampāyana alone became glorified by the Yajur Veda.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vedic Knowledge Entrusted to Learned Teachers

  1. 1

    After the division of the Vedas, Paila Ṛṣi became the professor of the Ṛg Veda.

  2. 2

    Jaimini became the professor of the Sāma Veda, and Vaiśampāyana became glorified by the Yajur Veda.

  3. 3

    The different Vedas were entrusted to different learned scholars for development in various ways.

Key points from the purport
  • The different Vedas were entrusted to different learned scholars for development in various ways.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrathereupon
  2. ṛg-veda-dharaḥthe professor of the Ṛg Veda
  3. pailaḥthe ṛṣi named Paila
  4. sāma-gaḥthat of the Sāma Veda
  5. jaiminiḥthe ṛṣi named Jaimini
  6. kaviḥhighly qualified
  7. vaiśampāyanaḥthe ṛṣi named Vaiśampāyana
  8. evaonly
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “glorified”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does entrusting the Vedas to learned scholars teach me about the responsibility of a teacher?

Practice

Write the three teachers' names beside the Veda entrusted to each, then check your list against the translation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVedic Knowledge Entrusted to Learned TeachersThis 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 1.4.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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