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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
4.2.24.2.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.2.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 4.2.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

एतदाख्याहि मे ब्रह्मन्जामातु: श्वशुरस्य च ।

विद्वेषस्तु यत: प्राणांस्तत्यजे दुस्त्यजान्सती ॥ ३ ॥

etad ākhyāhi me brahman

jāmātuḥ śvaśurasya ca

vidveṣas tu yataḥ prāṇāṁs

tatyaje dustyajān satī

Translation

My dear Maitreya, to part with one’s life is very difficult. Would you kindly explain to me how such a son-in-law and father-in-law could quarrel so bitterly that the great goddess Satī could give up her life?

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.

Ask Carefully About Painful Conflict

  1. 1

    Vidura acknowledges that parting with one’s life is very difficult.

  2. 2

    He asks how the quarrel between a father-in-law and son-in-law could become so bitter that Satī gave up her life.

  3. 3

    Rather than offering his own explanation, Vidura respectfully asks Maitreya to explain the cause.

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. etatthus
  2. ākhyāhiplease tell
  3. meto me
  4. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  5. jāmātuḥof the son-in-law (Lord Śiva)
  6. śvaśurasyaof the father-in-law (Dakṣa)
  7. caand
  8. vidveṣaḥquarrel
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “give up”, “gave up”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “father-in-law”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I hear about a painful conflict, do I seek understanding before drawing conclusions?

Practice

Before judging one disagreement today, ask a respectful question about what happened.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAsk Carefully About Painful ConflictThis 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 4.2.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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