1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

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 3: Talks Between Lord Śiva and Satī
4.3.204.3.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.3.21

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Śivasince 4.3.19inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

पापच्यमानेन हृदातुरेन्द्रिय:

समृद्धिभि: पूरुषबुद्धिसाक्षिणाम् ।

अकल्प एषामधिरोढुमञ्जसा

परं पदं द्वेष्टि यथासुरा हरिम् ॥ २१ ॥

pāpacyamānena hṛdāturendriyaḥ

samṛddhibhiḥ pūruṣa-buddhi-sākṣiṇām

akalpa eṣām adhiroḍhum añjasā

paraṁ padaṁ dveṣṭi yathāsurā harim

Translation

One who is conducted by false ego and thus always distressed, both mentally and sensually, cannot tolerate the opulence of self-realized persons. Being unable to rise to the standard of self-realization, he envies such persons as much as demons envy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Replace Envy With Respect and Devotion

  1. 1

    Dakṣa’s anger arose from long-standing envy of Lord Śiva’s elevated position and contact with the Supersoul. Śiva’s not standing was only the final occasion for that envy to appear.

  2. 2

    Self-realized persons see every body as a temple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who resides within as Paramātmā. Their respect is directed to His presence, not merely to the body.

  3. 3

    Envy prevents one from honoring self-realized souls and accepting Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa asks us to think of Him, become His devotees and surrender to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Dakṣa was envious of Lord Śiva because of Śiva’s high position as an incarnation of a quality of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and because Śiva was directly in contact with the Supersoul and was therefore honored and given a better sitting place than he.
  • Thus one who is always in meditation upon the Supreme Lord is always offering Him obeisances.
  • Such persons, being unable to rise to the standard of self-realized souls like Lord Śiva, are always envious.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.3.21 quotesBG 18.65

When Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ — “Always think of Me, become My devotee, and surrender unto Me” — the so-called scholars comment that it is not to Kṛṣṇa that we have to surrender.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. pāpacyamānenaburning
  2. hṛdāwith a heart
  3. ātura-indriyaḥwho is distressed
  4. samṛddhibhiḥby the pious reputation, etc.
  5. pūruṣa-buddhi-sākṣiṇāmof those who are always absorbed in thought of the Supreme Lord
  6. akalpaḥbeing unable
  7. eṣāmof those persons
  8. adhiroḍhumto rise
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “distressed”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “false ego”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 see someone spiritually advanced, do I respond with respect or comparison?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute thinking of Kṛṣṇa and His call to become His devotee.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReplace Envy With Respect and DevotionThis 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 4.3.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories