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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
4.1.324.1.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.33

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
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

सोमोऽभूद्ब्रह्मणोंऽशेन दत्तो विष्णोस्तु योगवित् ।

दुर्वासा: शङ्करस्यांशो निबोधाङ्गिरस: प्रजा: ॥ ३३ ॥

somo ’bhūd brahmaṇo ’ṁśena

datto viṣṇos tu yogavit

durvāsāḥ śaṅkarasyāṁśo

nibodhāṅgirasaḥ prajāḥ

Translation

Thereafter, from the partial representation of Brahmā, the moon-god was born of them; from the partial representation of Viṣṇu, the great mystic Dattātreya was born; and from the partial representation of Śaṅkara [Lord Śiva], Durvāsā was born. Now you may hear from me of the many sons of Aṅgirā.

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.

Three Sons from Three Partial Representations

  1. 1

    The moon-god was born from the partial representation of Brahmā.

  2. 2

    The great mystic Dattātreya was born from the partial representation of Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    Durvāsā was born from the partial representation of Śaṅkara, Lord Śiva. The narration then turns to the sons of Aṅgirā.

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. somaḥthe king of the moon planet
  2. abhūtappeared
  3. brahmaṇaḥof Lord Brahmā
  4. aṁśenapartial expansion
  5. dattaḥDattātreya
  6. viṣṇoḥof Viṣṇu
  7. tubut
  8. yoga-vitvery powerful yogī
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “narration”

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

Can I distinguish the three sons and the partial representations from which they appeared?

Practice

Write down each of the three sons beside the deity whose partial representation is described.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.1's connections

Live this todayThree Sons from Three Partial RepresentationsThis 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 4.1.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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