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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
4.24.114.24.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.12

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

विबुधासुरगन्धर्वमुनिसिद्धनरोरगा: ।

विजिता: सूर्यया दिक्षु क्‍वणयन्त्यैव नूपुरै: ॥ १२ ॥

vibudhāsura-gandharva-

muni-siddha-naroragāḥ

vijitāḥ sūryayā dikṣu

kvaṇayantyaiva nūpuraiḥ

Translation

While Śatadruti was thus being married, the demons, the denizens of Gandharvaloka, the great sages, and the denizens of Siddhaloka, the earthly planets and Nāgaloka, although highly exalted, were all captivated by the tinkling of her ankle bells.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attraction to Kṛṣṇa Overcomes Illusion

  1. 1

    Śatadruti captivated exalted beings simply through the tinkling of her ankle bells. They did not need to see her complete beauty to become attracted.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that even a small sensory impression can awaken lust. Exalted status or absorbed meditation alone does not guarantee protection.

  3. 3

    Only a devotee attracted by Kṛṣṇa can escape these lures. Once one is attracted by Kṛṣṇa, the illusory energy of the world cannot attract him.

Key points from the purport
  • Indeed, she attracted all the learned and exalted demigods simply by the tinkling of her ankle bells.
  • Since they could only see the feet of Śatadruti, they became attracted by her ankle bells, which tinkled as she walked.
  • In other words, the demigods became captivated by her simply by hearing the tinkling of her ankle bells.

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. vibudhalearned
  2. asurathe demons
  3. gandharvathe denizens of Gandharvaloka
  4. munigreat sages
  5. siddhathe denizens of Siddhaloka
  6. narathe inhabitants of the earthly planets
  7. uragāḥdenizens of Nāgaloka
  8. vijitāḥcaptivated
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: “lust”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “protection”

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

Am I relying only on self-control, or cultivating attraction to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute today to turn your attention toward Kṛṣṇa rather than a distracting sensory attraction.

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 4.24's connections

Live this todayAttraction to Kṛṣṇa Overcomes IllusionThis 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 4.24.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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