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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.26.24

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्मिन्दधे दममहं तव वीरपत्नि

योऽन्यत्र भूसुरकुलात्कृतकिल्बिषस्तम् ।

पश्ये न वीतभयमुन्मुदितं त्रिलोक्या-

मन्यत्र वै मुररिपोरितरत्र दासात् ॥ २४ ॥

tasmin dadhe damam ahaṁ tava vīra-patni

yo ’nyatra bhūsura-kulāt kṛta-kilbiṣas tam

paśye na vīta-bhayam unmuditaṁ tri-lokyām

anyatra vai mura-ripor itaratra dāsāt

Translation

O hero’s wife, kindly tell me if someone has offended you. I am prepared to give such a person punishment as long as he does not belong to the brāhmaṇa caste. But for the servant of Muraripu [Kṛṣṇa], I excuse no one within or beyond these three worlds. No one can freely move after offending you, for I am prepared to punish him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Guard Against Offending Devotees

  1. 1

    The purport describes qualified brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas as knowing the consequences of breaking the laws of the state and nature. In the Vedic order described here, the king was not to punish them even for apparent violations.

  2. 2

    Material activities pollute pure intelligence, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Offending a brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava makes that consciousness especially difficult to revive.

  3. 3

    Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra can remove material sins, but an offense to a Vaiṣṇava requires begging that devotee's pardon. One must seek forgiveness and please the person offended.

Key points from the purport
  • Pure consciousness can be revived by the process of sacrifice, charity, pious activities, etc., but when one pollutes his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by offending a brāhmaṇa or a Vaiṣṇava, it is very difficult to revive.
  • One should be very careful not to offend a Vaiṣṇava or a brāhmaṇa.
  • The conclusion is that if Kṛṣṇa consciousness is covered by material sins, one can eliminate the sins simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but if one pollutes his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by offending a brāhmaṇa or a Vaiṣṇava, one cannot revive it until one properly atones for the sin by pleasing the offended Vaiṣṇava or brāhmaṇa.

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 26: King Purañjana Goes to the Forest to Hunt, and His Queen Becomes Angry

Purañjana kills innocent animals while hunting, then returns and tries to soothe his distressed queen.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasminunto him
  2. dadheshall give
  3. damampunishment
  4. ahamI
  5. tavato you
  6. vīra-patniO wife of the hero
  7. yaḥone who
  8. anyatrabesides
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “offended”, “offense”, “offending”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “material”

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

Is there a devotee whose forgiveness I need to seek for something I have said or done?

Practice

If you have offended a devotee, offer a sincere apology and ask for forgiveness.

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.

Live this todayGuard Against Offending DevoteesThis 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 4.26.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.