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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.42

Who is speaking and story frame

चित्तिस्त्वथर्वण: पत्नी लेभे पुत्रं धृतव्रतम् ।

दध्यञ्चमश्वशिरसं भृगोर्वंशं निबोध मे ॥ ४२ ॥

cittis tv atharvaṇaḥ patnī

lebhe putraṁ dhṛta-vratam

dadhyañcam aśvaśirasaṁ

bhṛgor vaṁśaṁ nibodha me

Translation

Citti, wife of the sage Atharvā, gave birth to a son named Aśvaśirā by accepting a great vow called Dadhyañca. Now you may hear from me about the descendants of the sage Bhṛgu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Citti’s Vow and Son

  1. 1

    Citti, the wife of Atharvā, is also known as Śānti.

  2. 2

    She was the eighth daughter of Kardama Muni.

  3. 3

    By accepting the great vow called Dadhyañca, she gave birth to Aśvaśirā. The account then turns to the descendants of Bhṛgu.

Key points from the purport
  • The wife of Atharvā, known as Citti, is also known as Śānti.
  • She was the eighth daughter of Kardama Muni.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in 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. cittiḥCitti
  2. tualso
  3. atharvaṇaḥof Atharvā
  4. patnīwife
  5. lebhegot
  6. putramson
  7. dhṛta-vratamcompletely dedicated to a vow
  8. dadhyañcamDadhyañca
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

How does learning Citti’s other name help you follow this family account?

Practice

Write one short note linking Citti, Śānti, Atharvā and Aśvaśirā.

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.

Live this todayCitti’s Vow and SonThis 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 4.1.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.