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Study a Verse

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
1.4.21.4.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śaunaka Ṛṣisince 1.4.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

कस्मिन् युगे प्रवृत्तेयं स्थाने वा केन हेतुना ।

कुत: सञ्चोदित: कृष्ण: कृतवान् संहितां मुनि: ॥ ३ ॥

kasmin yuge pravṛtteyaṁ

sthāne vā kena hetunā

kutaḥ sañcoditaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ

kṛtavān saṁhitāṁ muniḥ

Translation

In what period and at what place was this first begun, and why was this taken up? From where did Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa, the great sage, get the inspiration to compile this literature?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Ask Thoughtful Questions About Bhāgavatam

  1. 1

    Śaunaka asks when and where the Bhāgavatam was begun, why it was undertaken, and what inspired Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Vyāsadeva had already explained the Vedas in various ways, including the Mahābhārata, to make their teachings accessible to those with less understanding.

  3. 3

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is his special contribution and is transcendental to mundane subject matter. Questions about its origin and purpose are therefore intelligent and relevant.

Key points from the purport
  • Because Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the special contribution of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, there are so many inquiries by the learned Śaunaka Muni.
  • Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is transcendental to all of them because it has nothing to do with anything mundane.
  • So the inquiries are very intelligent and relevant.

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. kasminin which
  2. yugeperiod
  3. pravṛttāwas begun
  4. iyamthis
  5. sthānein the place
  6. vāor
  7. kenaon what
  8. hetunāground
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “understanding”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which question about the Bhāgavatam's origin or purpose would help deepen my study?

Practice

Write down one of Śaunaka's questions and keep it beside you as you continue reading.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAsk Thoughtful Questions About BhāgavatamThis 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 1.4.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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  3. Lead
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