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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
4.2.334.2.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.2.34

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.2.34inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तेऽपि विश्वसृज: सत्रं सहस्रपरिवत्सरान् ।

संविधाय महेष्वास यत्रेज्य ऋषभो हरि: ॥ ३४ ॥

te ’pi viśva-sṛjaḥ satraṁ

sahasra-parivatsarān

saṁvidhāya maheṣvāsa

yatrejya ṛṣabho hariḥ

Translation

The sage Maitreya continued: O Vidura, all the progenitors of the universal population thus executed a sacrifice for thousands of years, for sacrifice is the best way to worship the Supreme Lord, Hari, the Personality of Godhead.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make the Supreme Lord’s Satisfaction the Goal

  1. 1

    The progenitors of the universal population performed sacrifices to worship Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their concern was to satisfy Him.

  2. 2

    Sacrifices and severe austerities are meant for the Supreme Lord’s satisfaction. When performed for personal satisfaction, they involve one in pāṣaṇḍa, or atheism.

  3. 3

    Acting for the Supreme Lord’s satisfaction is the Vedic principle. The assembled sages continued their sacrifices for one thousand years.

Key points from the purport
  • It is clearly stated here that the stalwart personalities who generate the entire population of the world are interested in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead by offering sacrifices.
  • One may engage in performing sacrifices and severe austerities for perfection, but they are all meant to satisfy the Supreme Lord. lf such activities are performed for personal satisfaction, one is involved in pāṣaṇḍa, or atheism; but when they are performed for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, one is following the Vedic principle.
  • All the assembled sages performed sacrifices for one thousand years.

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 4.2.34 quotesBG 5.29

The Lord also says in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasām.

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. tethose
  2. apieven
  3. viśva-sṛjaḥprogenitors of the universal population
  4. satramthe sacrifice
  5. sahasraone thousand
  6. parivatsarānyears
  7. saṁvidhāyaperforming
  8. maheṣvāsaO Vidura
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “worship”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

In my spiritual practice, am I seeking mainly my own satisfaction or the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Before one spiritual activity today, pause and make the Supreme Lord’s satisfaction your intention.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake the Supreme Lord’s Satisfaction the GoalThis 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.

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