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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.24.14.24.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.2

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.24.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

हर्यक्षायादिशत्प्राचीं धूम्रकेशाय दक्षिणाम् ।

प्रतीचीं वृकसंज्ञाय तुर्यां द्रविणसे विभु: ॥ २ ॥

haryakṣāyādiśat prācīṁ

dhūmrakeśāya dakṣiṇām

pratīcīṁ vṛka-saṁjñāya

turyāṁ draviṇase vibhuḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Vijitāśva offered the eastern part of the world to his brother Haryakṣa, the southern part to Dhūmrakeśa, the western part to Vṛka and the northern part to Draviṇa.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Clear Responsibilities for Each Brother

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Vijitāśva offered the eastern part of the world to Haryakṣa.

  2. 2

    He offered the southern part to Dhūmrakeśa and the western part to Vṛka.

  3. 3

    He offered the northern part to Draviṇa. Each brother received a distinct region to govern.

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. haryakṣāyaunto Haryakṣa
  2. adiśatdelivered
  3. prācīmeastern
  4. dhūmrakeśāyaunto Dhūmrakeśa
  5. dakṣiṇāmthe southern side
  6. pratīcīmthe western side
  7. vṛka-saṁjñāyaunto his brother whose name was Vṛka
  8. turyāmthe northern side
  9. draviṇaseunto another brother of his named Draviṇa
  10. vibhuḥthe master
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “govern”

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

When I share work, do I make each person’s responsibility clear?

Practice

For one shared task today, clearly agree on who will handle each part.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayClear Responsibilities for Each BrotherThis 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 4.24.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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