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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
4.24.84.24.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.9

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

बर्हिषत् सुमहाभागो हाविर्धानि: प्रजापति: ।

क्रियाकाण्डेषु निष्णातो योगेषु च कुरूद्वह ॥ ९ ॥

barhiṣat sumahā-bhāgo

hāvirdhāniḥ prajāpatiḥ

kriyā-kāṇḍeṣu niṣṇāto

yogeṣu ca kurūdvaha

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, Havirdhāna’s very powerful son named Barhiṣat was very expert in performing various kinds of fruitive sacrifices, and he was also expert in the practice of mystic yoga. By his great qualifications, he became known as Prajāpati.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Qualifications for the Responsibility of Prajāpati

  1. 1

    Barhiṣat, the powerful son of Havirdhāna, was expert in fruitive sacrifices and mystic yoga.

  2. 2

    At the beginning of creation, the population was small. Powerful living entities or demigods were appointed as Prajāpatis to beget children and increase it.

  3. 3

    Through his great qualifications, Barhiṣat became one of the Prajāpatis.

Key points from the purport
  • In the beginning of the creation there were not many living entities, and consequently the very powerful living entities or demigods were appointed as Prajāpatis in order to beget children and increase the population.
  • There are many Prajāpatis — Brahmā, Dakṣa and Manu are sometimes known as Prajāpatis — and Barhiṣat, the son of Havirdhāna, became one of them.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. barhiṣatof the name Barhiṣat
  2. su-mahā-bhāgaḥvery fortunate
  3. hāvirdhāniḥof the name Hāvirdhāni
  4. prajā-patiḥthe post of Prajāpati
  5. kriyā-kāṇḍeṣuin the matter of fruitive activities
  6. niṣṇātaḥbeing merged in
  7. yogeṣuin mystic yoga practices
  8. caalso
  9. kuru-udvahaO best of the Kurus (Vidura)
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

  • 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

How can I view my qualifications as preparation for responsibility?

Practice

Write down one ability you have and one responsibility it helps you fulfill.

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 todayQualifications for the Responsibility of PrajāpatiThis 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 4.24.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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