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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
4.2.74.2.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.2.8

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.2.4inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्राङ्‍‌निषण्णं मृडं दृष्ट्वा नामृष्यत्तदनाद‍ृत: ।

उवाच वामं चक्षुर्भ्यामभिवीक्ष्य दहन्निव ॥ ८ ॥

prāṅ-niṣaṇṇaṁ mṛḍaṁ dṛṣṭvā

nāmṛṣyat tad-anādṛtaḥ

uvāca vāmaṁ cakṣurbhyām

abhivīkṣya dahann iva

Translation

Before taking his seat, however, Dakṣa was very much offended to see Lord Śiva sitting and not showing him any respect. At that time, Dakṣa became greatly angry, and, his eyes glowing, he began to speak very strongly against Lord Śiva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Expected Honor Can Give Rise to Anger

  1. 1

    Dakṣa expected Lord Śiva, his son-in-law, to stand and show him respect. Yet Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva held positions greater than Dakṣa’s.

  2. 2

    Dakṣa could not tolerate Lord Śiva remaining seated and took it as an insult. With eyes glowing in anger, he began speaking strongly against him.

  3. 3

    Dakṣa had already been dissatisfied with Lord Śiva because he looked very poor and dressed very simply.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva, being the son-in-law of Dakṣa, was expected to show his father-in-law respect by standing with the others, but because Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are the principal demigods, their positions are greater than Dakṣa’s.
  • Dakṣa, however, could not tolerate this, and he took it as an insult by his son-in-law.
  • Previously, also, he was not very much satisfied with Lord Śiva, for Śiva looked very poor and was niggardly in dress.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prākbefore
  2. niṣaṇṇambeing seated
  3. mṛḍamLord Śiva
  4. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  5. na amṛṣyatdid not tolerate
  6. tatby him (Śiva)
  7. anādṛtaḥnot being respected
  8. uvācasaid
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.2

    In this verse: “offended”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do expectations of honor or judgments about appearance make me quick to take offense?

Practice

If you feel overlooked today, pause before speaking and examine what respect you were expecting.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayExpected Honor Can Give Rise to AngerThis 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 4.2.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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