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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 2: Dakṣa Curses Lord Śiva
4.2.264.2.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.2.27

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

तस्यैवं वदत: शापं श्रुत्वा द्विजकुलाय वै ।

भृगु: प्रत्यसृजच्छापं ब्रह्मदण्डं दुरत्ययम् ॥ २७ ॥

tasyaivaṁ vadataḥ śāpaṁ

śrutvā dvija-kulāya vai

bhṛguḥ pratyasṛjac chāpaṁ

brahma-daṇḍaṁ duratyayam

Translation

When all the hereditary brāhmaṇas were thus cursed by Nandīśvara, the sage Bhṛgu, as a reaction, condemned the followers of Lord Śiva with this very strong brahminical curse.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter Beyond Curses and Benedictions

  1. 1

    Bhṛgu reacted to Nandīśvara's curses by cursing Lord Śiva's followers. The purport describes a brāhmaṇa's curse as duratyaya, or insurmountable.

  2. 2

    Material curses and benedictions are on the same platform because both are material creations. The best path is to transcend both.

  3. 3

    One should take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who have taken His shelter remain peaceful and do not attempt to curse anyone.

Key points from the purport
  • The word duratyaya is particularly used in reference to a brahmadaṇḍa, or curse by a brāhmaṇa.
  • A curse by a brāhmaṇa is very strong; therefore it is called duratyaya, or insurmountable.
  • As the Lord states in Bhagavad-gītā, the stringent laws of nature are insurmountable; similarly, if a curse is uttered by a brāhmaṇa, that curse is also insurmountable.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.2.27 quotesBG 7.14

To get out of this material contamination, one should take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as recommended in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14): mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. tasyahis (Nandīśvara’s)
  2. evamthus
  3. vadataḥwords
  4. śāpamthe curse
  5. śrutvāhearing
  6. dvija-kulāyaunto the brāhmaṇas
  7. vaiindeed
  8. bhṛguḥBhṛgu
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 4.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I feel attacked, can I seek shelter in Kṛṣṇa rather than retaliate?

Practice

When irritation arises today, pause and turn to Kṛṣṇa for shelter instead of wishing harm on anyone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.2's connections

Live this todayTake Shelter Beyond Curses and BenedictionsThis 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 4.2.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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