1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 2: Dakṣa Curses Lord Śiva
4.2.254.2.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.2.26

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.2.19inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सर्वभक्षा द्विजा वृत्त्यै धृतविद्यातपोव्रता: ।

वित्तदेहेन्द्रियारामा याचका विचरन्त्विह ॥ २६ ॥

sarva-bhakṣā dvijā vṛttyai

dhṛta-vidyā-tapo-vratāḥ

vitta-dehendriyārāmā

yācakā vicarantv iha

Translation

These brāhmaṇas take to education, austerity and vows only for the purpose of maintaining the body. They shall be devoid of discrimination between what to eat and what not to eat. They will acquire money, begging from door to door, simply for the satisfaction of the body.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Qualification Is Not Hereditary

  1. 1

    Education, austerity and vows should not serve merely to maintain the body. Human life is meant for realization of the Supreme Brahman, the Absolute Truth.

  2. 2

    Brāhmaṇa is not a hereditary title or position. A person may attain brahminical qualifications under the instruction of a bona fide spiritual master, regardless of family birth.

  3. 3

    Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught that one who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa must be a spiritual master, regardless of birth or social position. His grace made those rejected by brāhmaṇa society first-class Vaiṣṇavas.

Key points from the purport
  • The so-called brāhmaṇas are no longer interested in understanding the nature of the Supreme Brahman, although a brāhmaṇa means one who has attained knowledge about Brahman.
  • If someone from a non- brāhmaṇa family (for example, one born in a family of śūdras) tries to become a brāhmaṇa by being properly qualified under the instruction of a bona fide spiritual master, these so-called brāhmaṇas will object.
  • Such brāhmaṇas, having been cursed by Nandīśvara, are actually in a position where they have no discrimination between eatables and noneatables and simply live to maintain the perishable material body and its family.

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. sarva-bhakṣāḥeating everything
  2. dvijāḥthe brāhmaṇas
  3. vṛttyaifor maintaining the body
  4. dhṛta-vidyāhaving taken to education
  5. tapaḥausterity
  6. vratāḥand vows
  7. vittamoney
  8. dehathe body
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value genuine spiritual knowledge more than family background or titles?

Practice

Examine one judgment you have made about someone's spiritual standing, separating actual qualifications from family background.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Qualification Is Not HereditaryThis 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 4.2.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories