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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
4.2.314.2.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.2.32

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Bhṛgu Munisince 4.2.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तद्ब्रह्म परमं शुद्धं सतां वर्त्म सनातनम् ।

विगर्ह्य यात पाषण्डं दैवं वो यत्र भूतराट् ॥ ३२ ॥

tad brahma paramaṁ śuddhaṁ

satāṁ vartma sanātanam

vigarhya yāta pāṣaṇḍaṁ

daivaṁ vo yatra bhūta-rāṭ

Translation

By blaspheming the principles of the Vedas, which are the pure and supreme path of the saintly persons, certainly you followers of Bhūtapati, Lord Śiva, will descend to the standard of atheism without a doubt.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect the Vedic Path to Spiritual Life

  1. 1

    The Vedic principles are described as the pure and supreme path of saintly persons. The Vedic system promotes people to spiritual life, the highest eternal principle of human civilization.

  2. 2

    Bhūta-rāṭ can mean the leader of creatures in ignorance or, in another sense, the father of this material world. Here Bhṛgu Muni speaks of Lord Śiva as the leader of the lowest creatures.

  3. 3

    The purport warns that decrying or blaspheming Vedic principles leads one to the standard of atheism. These principles should be respected as a path toward spiritual life.

Key points from the purport
  • The ghosts and those who are situated in the material mode of ignorance are called bhūtas, so bhūta-rāṭ refers to the leader of the creatures who are in the lowest standard of the material modes of nature.
  • Here, of course, Bhṛgu Muni takes Lord Śiva as the leader of the lowest creatures.
  • If one decries or blasphemes the Vedic principles, then he falls to the standard of atheism.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatthat
  2. brahmaVeda
  3. paramamsupreme
  4. śuddhampure
  5. satāmof the saintly persons
  6. vartmapath
  7. sanātanameternal
  8. vigarhyablaspheming
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “father”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I approach Vedic principles with respect rather than dismissing what I do not yet understand?

Practice

Reread the translation today and note one reason it gives for respecting Vedic principles.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 todayRespect the Vedic Path to Spiritual LifeThis 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 4.2.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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