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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 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
4.13.344.13.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.35

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The head priestssince 4.13.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

इति व्यवसिता विप्रास्तस्य राज्ञ: प्रजातये ।

पुरोडाशं निरवपन् शिपिविष्टाय विष्णवे ॥ ३५ ॥

iti vyavasitā viprās

tasya rājñaḥ prajātaye

puroḍāśaṁ niravapan

śipi-viṣṭāya viṣṇave

Translation

Thus for the sake of a son for King Aṅga, they decided to offer oblations to Lord Viṣṇu, who is situated in the hearts of all living entities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Viṣṇu Receives the Sacrificial Offering

  1. 1

    To obtain a son for King Aṅga, the priests decided to offer oblations to Lord Viṣṇu. He is situated in the hearts of all living entities.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that animals sacrificed in Vedic rituals were given new life through the potency of Vedic mantras. This tested whether the mantras were properly pronounced, rather than serving merely to kill animals.

  3. 3

    Lord Viṣṇu is present in the sacrificial flames when oblations are offered. Therefore He is known as Śipiviṣṭa.

Key points from the purport
  • According to sacrificial rituals, animals are sometimes sacrificed in the yajña arena.
  • In a medical clinic, the animals are not revived, but in the yajña arena, when animals were sacrificed, they were again given life by the potency of Vedic mantras.
  • In the sacrificial fire if the oblations are offered into the flames, then Lord Viṣṇu is situated there in the form of the flames.

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

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja

Dhruva’s descendants are described, followed by an account of a sonless king and the cruel boy Vena.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.13
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. vyavasitāḥhaving decided
  3. viprāḥthe brāhmaṇas
  4. tasyahis
  5. rājñaḥof the king
  6. prajātayefor the purpose of getting a son
  7. puroḍāśamthe paraphernalia of sacrifice
  8. niravapanoffered
  9. śipi-viṣṭāyato the Lord, who is situated in the sacrificial fire
  10. viṣṇaveto Lord Viṣṇu
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “king”

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 remembering Lord Viṣṇu’s presence in every heart affect my regard for others?

Practice

When meeting someone today, quietly remember that Lord Viṣṇu is situated in that person’s heart.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Viṣṇu Receives the Sacrificial OfferingThis 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 4.13.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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