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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 · Texts 4.1.54-55

Who is speaking and story frame

दिव्यवाद्यन्त तूर्याणि पेतु: कुसुमवृष्टय: ।

मुनयस्तुष्टुवुस्तुष्टा जगुर्गन्धर्वकिन्नरा: ॥ ५४ ॥

नृत्यन्ति स्म स्त्रियो देव्य आसीत्परममङ्गलम् ।

देवा ब्रह्मादय: सर्वे उपतस्थुरभिष्टवै: ॥ ५५ ॥

divy avādyanta tūryāṇi

petuḥ kusuma-vṛṣṭayaḥ

munayas tuṣṭuvus tuṣṭā

jagur gandharva-kinnarāḥ

nṛtyanti sma striyo devya

āsīt parama-maṅgalam

devā brahmādayaḥ sarve

upatasthur abhiṣṭavaiḥ

Translation

In the heavenly planets, bands began to play, and they showered flowers from the sky. The pacified sages chanted Vedic prayers, the denizens of heaven known as the Gandharvas and Kinnaras sang, the beautiful damsels of the heavenly planets danced, and in this way, at the time of the appearance of Nara-Nārāyaṇa, all signs of good fortune were visible. Just at that time, great demigods like Brahmā also offered their respectful prayers.

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.

Welcoming Nara-Nārāyaṇa with Respectful Prayers

  1. 1

    At Nara-Nārāyaṇa’s appearance, bands played in the heavenly planets and flowers showered from the sky.

  2. 2

    The pacified sages chanted Vedic prayers, the Gandharvas and Kinnaras sang, and the beautiful heavenly damsels danced.

  3. 3

    All signs of good fortune were visible. Great demigods, including Brahmā, offered respectful prayers.

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. diviin the heavenly planets
  2. avādyantavibrated
  3. tūryāṇia band of instruments
  4. petuḥthey showered
  5. kusumaof flowers
  6. vṛṣṭayaḥshowers
  7. munayaḥthe sages
  8. tuṣṭuvuḥchanted Vedic prayers
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanted”

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 can the respectful prayers described here guide your own response to Nara-Nārāyaṇa?

Practice

Offer one short, respectful prayer to Nara-Nārāyaṇa today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWelcoming Nara-Nārāyaṇa with Respectful PrayersThis 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 4.1.54-55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.