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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
4.2.324.2.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.2.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.2.33inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

तस्यैवं वदत: शापं भृगो: स भगवान् भव: ।

निश्चक्राम तत: किञ्चिद्विमना इव सानुग: ॥ ३३ ॥

maitreya uvāca

tasyaivaṁ vadataḥ śāpaṁ

bhṛgoḥ sa bhagavān bhavaḥ

niścakrāma tataḥ kiñcid

vimanā iva sānugaḥ

Translation

The sage Maitreya said: When such cursing and countercursing was going on between Lord Śiva’s followers and the parties of Dakṣa and Bhṛgu, Lord Śiva became very morose. Not saying anything, he left the arena of the sacrifice, followed by his disciples.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Tolerance Over Quarreling

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva showed excellent character by remaining sober and silent during the cursing and countercursing. The purport describes him as the topmost Vaiṣṇava and emphasizes a Vaiṣṇava’s tolerance.

  2. 2

    He was saddened because both parties were quarreling without interest in spiritual life. Seeing everyone from the spiritual platform, he did not regard anyone as lower or higher.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva left the sacrifice with his disciples to stop the exchange of curses. His departure showed restraint rather than a desire to answer hostility with hostility.

Key points from the purport
  • In spite of the cursing and countercursing between the parties of Dakṣa and Śiva, because he is the greatest Vaiṣṇava he was so sober that he did not say anything.
  • He became morose because he knew that these people, both his men and Dakṣa’s, were unnecessarily cursing and countercursing one another, without any interest in spiritual life.
  • Thus the only alternative left to Lord Śiva was to leave in order to stop his follower, Nandīśvara, as well as Bhṛgu Muni, from cursing and countercursing in that way.

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 4.2.33 quotesBG 5.18

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.18), paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ: one who is perfectly learned does not see anyone as lesser or greater, because he sees everyone from the spiritual platform.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya said
  2. tasyaof him
  3. evamthus
  4. vadataḥbeing spoken
  5. śāpamcurse
  6. bhṛgoḥof Bhṛgu
  7. saḥhe
  8. bhagavānthe possessor of all opulences
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When disagreement arises, do I protect my interest in spiritual life or become absorbed in answering others?

Practice

If a quarrel arises today, pause before replying and, if needed, step away without adding harsh words.

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 todayChoose Tolerance Over QuarrelingThis 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 4.2.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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