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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 24: Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Śiva
4.24.104.24.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.11

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.24.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सामुद्रीं देवदेवोक्तामुपयेमे शतद्रुतिम् ।

यां वीक्ष्य चारुसर्वाङ्गीं किशोरीं सुष्ठ्वलङ्कृताम् ।

परिक्रमन्तीमुद्वाहे चकमेऽग्नि: शुकीमिव ॥ ११ ॥

sāmudrīṁ devadevoktām

upayeme śatadrutim

yāṁ vīkṣya cāru-sarvāṅgīṁ

kiśorīṁ suṣṭhv-alaṅkṛtām

parikramantīm udvāhe

cakame ’gniḥ śukīm iva

Translation

Mahārāja Barhiṣat — henceforward known as Prācīnabarhi — was ordered by the supreme demigod Brahmā to marry the daughter of the ocean named Śatadruti. Her bodily features were completely beautiful, and she was very young. She was decorated with the proper garments, and when she came into the marriage arena and began circumambulating it, the fire-god Agni became so attracted to her that he desired her company, exactly as he had formerly desired to enjoy Śukī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attraction Can Deepen Material Entanglement

  1. 1

    The purport explains that natural attraction between man and woman becomes strongly fixed through marriage. The bride’s decorations and the marriage ceremony strengthen this attraction.

  2. 2

    Home, children, friends and wealth can deepen material identification. One begins to think, “This is mine,” and “It is I who am acting.”

  3. 3

    Even highly situated demigods can be overcome by sexual attraction. The purport describes this attraction as a force that keeps living entities accepting material bodies.

Key points from the purport
  • As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, men and women are naturally attracted to one another, and when they are united by marriage that attraction becomes very strong.
  • The words śukīm iva are also significant, for the fire-god Agni became attracted by the beauty of Śatadruti while she was circumambulating the bridegroom Prācīnabarhi, just as he had previously been attracted to the beauty of Śukī, the wife of Saptarṣi.
  • Not only the fire-god Agni but the heavenly god Indra and sometimes even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva — all very highly situated demigods — are subject to being attracted by sex at any time.

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

Worldly absorption → Sobering awareness. The mind's identification with material life becomes visible.

Chapters 24–29 of Canto 4: Śiva's song and the allegory of Purañjana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Śiva

Lord Śiva mercifully teaches the Pracetās prayers glorifying the Supreme Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sāmudrīmunto the daughter of the ocean
  2. deva-deva-uktāmbeing advised by the supreme demigod, Lord Brahmā
  3. upayememarried
  4. śatadrutimof the name Śatadruti
  5. yāmwhom
  6. vīkṣyaseeing
  7. cāruvery attractive
  8. sarva-aṅgīmall the features of the body
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “children”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where do I notice the thought “This is mine” strengthening my attachment?

Practice

Today, notice one possessive thought and pause to reflect on how it strengthens material identification.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttraction Can Deepen Material EntanglementThis 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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