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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
4.1.564.1.58

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.57

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

सोऽयं स्थितिव्यतिकरोपशमाय सृष्टान्

सत्त्वेन न: सुरगणाननुमेयतत्त्व: ।

द‍ृश्याददभ्रकरुणेन विलोकनेन

यच्छ्रीनिकेतममलं क्षिपतारविन्दम् ॥ ५७ ॥

so ’yaṁ sthiti-vyatikaropaśamāya sṛṣṭān

sattvena naḥ sura-gaṇān anumeya-tattvaḥ

dṛśyād adabhra-karuṇena vilokanena

yac chrī-niketam amalaṁ kṣipatāravindam

Translation

Let that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is understood by truly authorized Vedic literature and who has created peace and prosperity to destroy all calamities of the created world, be kind enough to bestow His glance upon the demigods. His merciful glance can supersede the beauty of the spotless lotus flower which is the home of the goddess of fortune.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Knowing the Lord Through Authentic Scripture

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the origin of the cosmic manifestation, but the wonderful activities of material nature cover Him from our view.

  2. 2

    Authentic scriptures such as Bhagavad-gītā reveal the Supreme Personality of Godhead behind the cosmic manifestation. He is the cause of its creation and dissolution.

  3. 3

    The Lord appears to maintain the cosmic manifestation and to become visible to persons in the mode of goodness. The demigods prayed for His merciful glance.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the origin of the cosmic manifestation, is covered by the wonderful activities of material nature, just as outer space or the illumination of the sun and moon is sometimes covered by clouds or dust.
  • But from śāstra, or authentic literature like Bhagavad-gītā and other Vedic scriptures, we understand that behind this wonderful cosmic manifestation is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in order to maintain the regular procedures of the cosmic manifestation and to be visible to the eyes of persons who are in the mode of goodness, the Lord appears.
  • The demigods therefore prayed for His merciful glance upon them in order to be blessed.

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. saḥthat
  2. ayamHe
  3. sthitiof the created world
  4. vyatikaracalamities
  5. upaśamāyafor destroying
  6. sṛṣṭāncreated
  7. sattvenaby the mode of goodness
  8. naḥus
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “merciful”

  • 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 can authentic scripture help me see beyond material nature to the Lord behind it?

Practice

Read this verse’s prayer slowly and ask the Lord for His merciful glance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKnowing the Lord Through Authentic ScriptureThis 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 4.1.57? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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