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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
4.1.394.1.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.40

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

ऊर्जायां जज्ञिरे पुत्रा वसिष्ठस्य परन्तप ।

चित्रकेतुप्रधानास्ते सप्त ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमला: ॥ ४० ॥

ūrjāyāṁ jajñire putrā

vasiṣṭhasya parantapa

citraketu-pradhānās te

sapta brahmarṣayo ’malāḥ

Translation

The great sage Vasiṣṭha begot in his wife, Ūrjā [sometimes called Arundhatī], seven spotlessly great sages, headed by the sage named Citraketu.

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.

Seven Spotlessly Great Sages

  1. 1

    The great sage Vasiṣṭha’s wife was Ūrjā, sometimes called Arundhatī.

  2. 2

    Vasiṣṭha begot seven sons in her, all described as spotlessly great sages.

  3. 3

    These seven sages were headed by Citraketu.

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. ūrjāyāmin Ūrjā
  2. jajñiretook birth
  3. putrāḥsons
  4. vasiṣṭhasyaof the great sage Vasiṣṭha
  5. parantapaO great one
  6. citraketuCitraketu
  7. pradhānāḥheaded by
  8. teall the sons
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

Do I notice the sages’ spotless character as carefully as their names?

Practice

Write a one-sentence summary that includes the parents, the seven sages and Citraketu.

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 todaySeven Spotlessly Great SagesThis 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 4.1.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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