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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 · Text 4.10.28

Who is speaking and story frame

एवंविधान्यनेकानि त्रासनान्यमनस्विनाम् ।

ससृजुस्तिग्मगतय आसुर्या माययासुरा: ॥ २८ ॥

evaṁ-vidhāny anekāni

trāsanāny amanasvinām

sasṛjus tigma-gataya

āsuryā māyayāsurāḥ

Translation

The demon Yakṣas are by nature very heinous, and by their demoniac power of illusion they can create many strange phenomena to frighten one who is less intelligent.

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.

Illusory Phenomena Are Created to Frighten

  1. 1

    The demon Yakṣas are described as very heinous by nature.

  2. 2

    Their demoniac power of illusion enables them to create many strange phenomena.

  3. 3

    These phenomena are intended to frighten one who is less intelligent.

How it feels

Rejection → Transformed aspiration. A child's wounded pride is purified by divine encounter.

Chapters 8–12 of Canto 4: Dhruva seeks and encounters the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: Dhruva Mahārāja’s Fight with the Yakṣas

After Uttama is killed by a Yakṣa, Dhruva fights the Yakṣas and faces their illusions.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evam-vidhāni(phenomena) like this
  2. anekānimany varieties of
  3. trāsanānifearful
  4. amanasvināmto the less intelligent men
  5. sasṛjuḥthey created
  6. tigma-gatayaḥof heinous nature
  7. āsuryādemoniac
  8. māyayāby illusion
  9. asurāḥthe demons
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.10

    In this verse: “illusion”

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 knowing the purpose of these phenomena change your understanding of them?

Practice

Write down the source and purpose of the strange phenomena as this verse explains them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIllusory Phenomena Are Created to FrightenThis 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 4.10.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.