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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
4.1.584.1.60

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.59

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.1.58inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ताविमौ वै भगवतो हरेरंशाविहागतौ ।

भारव्ययाय च भुव: कृष्णौ यदुकुरूद्वहौ ॥ ५९ ॥

tāv imau vai bhagavato

harer aṁśāv ihāgatau

bhāra-vyayāya ca bhuvaḥ

kṛṣṇau yadu-kurūdvahau

Translation

That Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, who is a partial expansion of Kṛṣṇa, has now appeared in the dynasties of Yadu and Kuru, in the forms of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna respectively, to mitigate the burden of the world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Appears to Relieve the World

  1. 1

    Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Nara is a portion of Nārāyaṇa. The purport describes them as the energetic and His energy.

  2. 2

    Nara appeared as Arjuna in the Kuru dynasty, and Nārāyaṇa appeared as Kṛṣṇa in the Yadu dynasty.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His appearance was meant to deliver suffering humanity from the pains of material burdens.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus the energy and the energetic together are the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Maitreya informed Vidura that Nara, the portion of Nārāyaṇa, had appeared in the family of the Kurus and that Nārāyaṇa, the plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa, had come as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with the purpose of delivering suffering humanity from the pangs of material burdens.
  • In other words, Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi was now present in the world in the forms of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna.

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. tauboth
  2. imauthese
  3. vaicertainly
  4. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. hareḥof Hari
  6. aṁśaupart and parcel expansion
  7. ihahere (in this universe)
  8. āgatauhas appeared
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

What does the Lord’s purpose in appearing reveal about His concern for suffering humanity?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s purpose of relieving the world’s burden.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Appears to Relieve the WorldThis 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.

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