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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
4.1.184.1.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.19

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

प्राणायामेन संयम्य मनो वर्षशतं मुनि: ।

अतिष्ठदेकपादेन निर्द्वन्द्वोऽनिलभोजन: ॥ १९ ॥

prāṇāyāmena saṁyamya

mano varṣa-śataṁ muniḥ

atiṣṭhad eka-pādena

nirdvandvo ’nila-bhojanaḥ

Translation

There the great sage concentrated his mind by the yogic breathing exercises, and thereby controlling all attachment, he remained standing on one leg only, eating nothing but air, and stood there on one leg for one hundred years.

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.

The Sage’s Extraordinary Concentration and Austerity

  1. 1

    The great sage concentrated his mind through yogic breathing exercises.

  2. 2

    He controlled all attachment and remained standing on one leg.

  3. 3

    His austerity continued for one hundred years, during which he ate nothing but air.

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. prāṇāyāmenaby practice of the breathing exercise
  2. saṁyamyacontrolling
  3. manaḥmind
  4. varṣa-śatamone hundred years
  5. muniḥthe great sage
  6. atiṣṭhatremained there
  7. eka-pādenastanding on one leg
  8. nirdvandvaḥwithout duality
  9. anilaair
  10. bhojanaḥeating
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “attachment”

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 does this description show you about the depth of the sage’s determination?

Practice

Spend one undistracted minute rereading the verse and noting its description of concentration, without imitating the severe austerities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Sage’s Extraordinary Concentration and AusterityThis 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 4.1.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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