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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
4.1.294.1.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.30

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The three deitiessince 4.1.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

देवा ऊचु:

यथा कृतस्ते सङ्कल्पो भाव्यं तेनैव नान्यथा ।

सत्सङ्कल्पस्य ते ब्रह्मन् यद्वै ध्यायति ते वयम् ॥ ३० ॥

devā ūcuḥ

yathā kṛtas te saṅkalpo

bhāvyaṁ tenaiva nānyathā

sat-saṅkalpasya te brahman

yad vai dhyāyati te vayam

Translation

The three deities told Atri Muni: Dear brāhmaṇa, you are perfect in your determination, and therefore as you have decided, so it will happen; it will not happen otherwise. We are all the same person upon whom you were meditating, and therefore we have all come to you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Determines Our Destination

  1. 1

    Atri Muni meditated on the Lord of the universe without a clear understanding of His specific form. Therefore Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva, who preside over the universe’s three departments, all appeared.

  2. 2

    The deities assured Atri that his determination would be fulfilled. One’s determination is fulfilled according to the strength of one’s devotion, by the Lord’s grace.

  3. 3

    Attachment to a particular deity leads to that deity’s abode. Attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, leads to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s abode.

Key points from the purport
  • Or Lord Śiva, who is ultimately the destroyer of the universe, also may be considered its Lord.
  • Therefore, since Atri Muni did not specifically mention whom he wanted, all three — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva — came before him.
  • Atri Muni had no clear conception of the Lord of the universe; therefore the three presiding deities who are actually the lords of the universe in the three departments of the modes of nature all came before him.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.1.30 quotesBG 9.25

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25): yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. devāḥ ūcuḥthe demigods replied
  2. yathāas
  3. kṛtaḥdone
  4. teby you
  5. saṅkalpaḥdetermination
  6. bhāvyamto be done
  7. tena evaby that
  8. na anyathānot otherwise
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “devotion”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “grace”

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

Does my daily devotion reflect a desire to reach Lord Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today for prayer to Kṛṣṇa, making devotion to Him your conscious goal.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Determines Our DestinationThis 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.

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