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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 4.2.11

Who is speaking and story frame

एष मे शिष्यतां प्राप्तो यन्मे दुहितुरग्रहीत् ।

पाणिं विप्राग्निमुखत: सावित्र्या इव साधुवत् ॥ ११ ॥

eṣa me śiṣyatāṁ prāpto

yan me duhitur agrahīt

pāṇiṁ viprāgni-mukhataḥ

sāvitryā iva sādhuvat

Translation

He has already accepted himself as my subordinate by marrying my daughter in the presence of fire and brāhmaṇas. He has married my daughter, who is equal to Gāyatrī, and has pretended to be just like an honest person.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dakṣa Expects Respect From His Son-in-Law

  1. 1

    Dakṣa considered Lord Śiva his subordinate because Śiva had married his daughter in the presence of fire and brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    Dakṣa described his daughter as equal to Gāyatrī and accused Śiva of merely pretending to be honest.

  3. 3

    The purport explains Dakṣa’s accusation: he considered Śiva dishonest because his son-in-law had not shown him respect.

Key points from the purport
  • Dakṣa’s statement that Lord Śiva pretended to be an honest person means that Śiva was dishonest because in spite of accepting the position of Dakṣa’s son-in-law, he was not respectful to Dakṣa.

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 2: Dakṣa Curses Lord Śiva

Dakṣa insults and curses Lord Śiva at a great sacrificial assembly.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eṣaḥhe (Śiva)
  2. memy
  3. śiṣyatāmsubordinate position
  4. prāptaḥaccepted
  5. yatbecause
  6. me duhituḥof my daughter
  7. agrahīthe took
  8. pāṇimthe hand
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do my expectations of respect affect the way I judge others?

Practice

Today, notice one expectation you have of a family member before judging that person’s intentions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDakṣa Expects Respect From His Son-in-LawThis 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 4.2.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.