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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 3: Talks Between Lord Śiva and Satī
4.3.114.3.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.3.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Satīsince 4.3.8inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

पश्य प्रयान्तीरभवान्ययोषितो

ऽप्यलड़्क़ृता: कान्तसखा वरूथश: ।

यासां व्रजद्‌भि: शितिकण्ठ मण्डितं

नभो विमानै: कलहंसपाण्डुभि: ॥ १२ ॥

paśya prayāntīr abhavānya-yoṣito

’py alaṅkṛtāḥ kānta-sakhā varūthaśaḥ

yāsāṁ vrajadbhiḥ śiti-kaṇṭha maṇḍitaṁ

nabho vimānaiḥ kala-haṁsa-pāṇḍubhiḥ

Translation

O never-born, O blue-throated one, not only my relatives but also other women, dressed in nice clothes and decorated with ornaments, are going there with their husbands and friends. Just see how their flocks of white airplanes have made the entire sky very beautiful.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Satī Appeals to Lord Śiva’s Kindness

  1. 1

    Satī pointed to the many women traveling with their husbands and friends in white airplanes. Even people unrelated to her father were attending, strengthening her appeal to go.

  2. 2

    She addressed Lord Śiva as abhava, which the purport explains here may mean one who has never felt material miseries.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva is called nīlakaṇṭha because he kept poison in his throat for others’ benefit, making it blue. Satī appealed to that same kindness in asking permission to visit her father’s house.

Key points from the purport
  • Here Lord Śiva is addressed as abhava, which means “one who is never born,” although generally he is known as bhava, “one who is born.”
  • When Lord Śiva is addressed here as abhava, this may be taken to mean “one who has never felt material miseries.”
  • The reason that Lord Śiva drank an ocean of poison was for others’ benefit.

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

Humiliation and anger → Reconciliation. Relational offense leads to grief and destruction before restoration.

Chapters 1–7 of Canto 4: Dakṣa, Satī and Śiva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Talks Between Lord Śiva and Satī

Satī wishes to attend her father’s sacrifice; Lord Śiva warns her about envy and hurtful words.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. paśyajust see
  2. prayāntīḥgoing
  3. abhavaO never-born
  4. anya-yoṣitaḥother women
  5. apicertainly
  6. alaṅkṛtāḥornamented
  7. kānta-sakhāḥwith their husbands and friends
  8. varūthaśaḥin large numbers
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “kindness”

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 concern for another person’s welfare shape my response to a request?

Practice

Listen kindly to one person’s request today before giving your answer.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySatī Appeals to Lord Śiva’s KindnessThis 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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