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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
4.1.604.1.62

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.1.61

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
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

तेभ्योऽग्नय: समभवन्चत्वारिंशच्च पञ्च च ।

त एवैकोनपञ्चाशत्साकं पितृपितामहै: ॥ ६१ ॥

tebhyo ’gnayaḥ samabhavan

catvāriṁśac ca pañca ca

ta evaikonapañcāśat

sākaṁ pitṛ-pitāmahaiḥ

Translation

From those three sons another forty-five descendants were generated, who are also fire-gods. The total number of fire-gods is therefore forty-nine, including the fathers and the grandfather.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Forty-Nine Fire-Gods

  1. 1

    Agni is the grandfather in this family of fire-gods.

  2. 2

    His three sons are Pāvaka, Pavamāna and Śuci. From these sons came forty-five descendants, who are also fire-gods.

  3. 3

    Agni, his three sons and his forty-five grandsons together make forty-nine fire-gods.

Key points from the purport
  • The grandfather is Agni, and the sons are Pāvaka, Pavamāna and Śuci.
  • Counting these four, plus forty-five grandsons, there are altogether forty-nine different fire-gods.

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. tebhyaḥfrom them
  2. agnayaḥfire-gods
  3. samabhavanwere produced
  4. catvāriṁśatforty
  5. caand
  6. pañcafive
  7. caand
  8. tethey
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.1

    In this verse: “fathers”

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 carefully following the family relationships help me understand this total?

Practice

Draw a three-level family outline showing Agni, his three sons and the forty-five grandsons.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Forty-Nine Fire-GodsThis 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 4.1.61? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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