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

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 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 4 · Chapter 1: Genealogical Table of the Daughters of Manu
4.1.164.1.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.17

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.1.17inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

ब्रह्मणा चोदित: सृष्टावत्रिर्ब्रह्मविदां वर: ।

सह पत्‍न्या ययावृक्षं कुलाद्रिं तपसि स्थित: ॥ १७ ॥

maitreya uvāca

brahmaṇā coditaḥ sṛṣṭāv

atrir brahma-vidāṁ varaḥ

saha patnyā yayāv ṛkṣaṁ

kulādriṁ tapasi sthitaḥ

Translation

Maitreya said: When Lord Brahmā ordered Atri Muni to create generations after marrying Anasūyā, Atri Muni and his wife went to perform severe austerities in the valley of the mountain known as Ṛkṣa.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Atri and Anasūyā Undertake Austerities

  1. 1

    After Atri Muni married Anasūyā, Brahmā ordered him to create generations.

  2. 2

    Atri Muni went with his wife to the valley of the mountain Ṛkṣa.

  3. 3

    Together they went there to perform severe austerities.

How it feels

Humiliation and anger → Reconciliation. Relational offense leads to grief and destruction before restoration.

Chapters 1–7 of Canto 4: Dakṣa, Satī and Śiva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: Genealogical Table of the Daughters of Manu

Maitreya describes the descendants of Manu’s daughters and the blessings received by Atri Muni.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācaŚrī Maitreya Ṛṣi said
  2. brahmaṇāby Lord Brahmā
  3. coditaḥbeing inspired
  4. sṛṣṭaufor creation
  5. atriḥAtri
  6. brahma-vidāmof the persons learned in spiritual knowledge
  7. varaḥthe chief
  8. sahawith
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to you about Atri Muni and Anasūyā undertaking this task together?

Practice

Write one sentence summarizing Brahmā’s instruction and the couple’s response.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAtri and Anasūyā Undertake AusteritiesThis 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 4.1.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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