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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
4.1.54-554.1.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.56

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 4.1.56inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

देवा ऊचु:

यो मायया विरचितं निजयात्मनीदं

खे रूपभेदमिव तत्प्रतिचक्षणाय ।

एतेन धर्मसदने ऋषिमूर्तिनाद्य

प्रादुश्चकार पुरुषाय नम: परस्मै ॥ ५६ ॥

devā ūcuḥ

yo māyayā viracitaṁ nijayātmanīdaṁ

khe rūpa-bhedam iva tat-praticakṣaṇāya

etena dharma-sadane ṛṣi-mūrtinādya

prāduścakāra puruṣāya namaḥ parasmai

Translation

The demigods said: Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the transcendental Personality of Godhead, who created as His external energy this cosmic manifestation, which is situated in Him as the air and clouds are situated in space, and who has now appeared in the form of Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi in the house of Dharma.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Creation Is the Supreme Lord’s Real Energy

  1. 1

    The cosmic manifestation is the Lord’s universal form, an exhibition of His external energy. This energy is situated in Him, as air and clouds are situated in space.

  2. 2

    The Lord appeared as Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi in the house of Dharma, within the creation of His own energy. That energy is simultaneously one with and different from Him.

  3. 3

    Material varieties are temporary, but they are not false; they reflect spiritual varieties. They announce the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to whom the demigods offered their respects.

Key points from the purport
  • The universal form of the Lord is the cosmic manifestation, which is an exhibition of the external energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Now the Lord Himself, after manifesting His energy, appeared within the creation of His energy, which is simultaneously one with and different from Himself, and therefore the demigods offered their respects to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who manifests Himself in such varieties.
  • Thus because the energy is nondifferent from the Godhead, the varieties are also factual.

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. devāḥthe demigods
  2. ūcuḥsaid
  3. yaḥwho
  4. māyayāby the external energy
  5. viracitamwas created
  6. nijayāby His own
  7. ātmanibeing situated in Him
  8. idamthis
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “dharma”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 seeing material variety as the Lord’s real energy change the way you regard the world?

Practice

Look at the sky today, remember that creation is the Supreme Lord’s energy, and offer Him your respects.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCreation Is the Supreme Lord’s Real EnergyThis 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 4.1.56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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