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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
4.1.174.1.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

तस्मिन् प्रसूनस्तबकपलाशाशोककानने ।

वार्भि: स्रवद्‌भिरुद्‍घुष्टेनिर्विन्ध्याया: समन्तत: ॥ १८ ॥

tasmin prasūna-stabaka-

palāśāśoka-kānane

vārbhiḥ sravadbhir udghuṣṭe

nirvindhyāyāḥ samantataḥ

Translation

In that mountain valley flows a river named Nirvindhyā. On the bank of the river are many aśoka trees and other plants full of palāśa flowers, and there is always the sweet sound of water flowing from a waterfall. The husband and wife reached that beautiful place.

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.

A Beautiful Valley Beside the Nirvindhyā

  1. 1

    The river Nirvindhyā flows through the mountain valley.

  2. 2

    Its banks have many aśoka trees and plants full of palāśa flowers.

  3. 3

    The sweet sound of a waterfall is always present there. The husband and wife reached this beautiful place.

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. tasminin that
  2. prasūna-stabakabunches of flowers
  3. palāśapalāśa trees
  4. aśokaaśoka trees
  5. kānanein the forest garden
  6. vārbhiḥby the waters
  7. sravadbhiḥflowing
  8. udghuṣṭein sound
  9. nirvindhyāyāḥof the river Nirvindhyā
  10. samantataḥeverywhere
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “sweet”

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

Which detail helps you most clearly picture the place they reached?

Practice

Read the translation and spend a quiet moment picturing the river, flowers and waterfall.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Beautiful Valley Beside the NirvindhyāThis 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 4.1.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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