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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 4: Satī Quits Her Body
4.4.54.4.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.4.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.4.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

आब्रह्मघोषोर्जितयज्ञवैशसं

विप्रर्षिजुष्टं विबुधैश्च सर्वश: ।

मृद्दार्वय:काञ्चनदर्भचर्मभि-

र्निसृष्टभाण्डं यजनं समाविशत् ॥ ६ ॥

ābrahma-ghoṣorjita-yajña-vaiśasaṁ

viprarṣi-juṣṭaṁ vibudhaiś ca sarvaśaḥ

mṛd-dārv-ayaḥ-kāñcana-darbha-carmabhir

nisṛṣṭa-bhāṇḍaṁ yajanaṁ samāviśat

Translation

She then reached her father’s house, where the sacrifice was being performed, and entered the arena where everyone was chanting the Vedic hymns. The great sages, brāhmaṇas and demigods were all assembled there, and there were many sacrificial animals, as well as pots made of clay, stone, gold, grass and skin, which were all requisite for the sacrifice.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting Is the Sacrifice for This Age

  1. 1

    Satī entered an assembly of sages, brāhmaṇas and demigods. Chanting Vedic mantras and discussing scriptural conclusions filled the atmosphere with transcendental sound.

  2. 2

    For this age, Lord Caitanya recommends gathering together to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the recommended sacrifice when elaborate Vedic arrangements are beyond people’s means and knowledge.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that the sacrificial animals were not intended for killing and eating. An old animal was rejuvenated to test the power of the Vedic mantras and the realization of the brāhmaṇas.

Key points from the purport
  • When learned sages and brāhmaṇas assemble to chant Vedic mantras, some of them also engage in arguing about the conclusion of the scriptures.
  • Thus some of the sages and brāhmaṇas were arguing, and some of them were chanting the Vedic mantras, so the entire atmosphere was surcharged with transcendental sound vibration.
  • Animals were used to test the power of Vedic mantras, not for meat.

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 4.4.6 quotesSB 11.5.32

Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the sound vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, and in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) it is also recommended: yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ.

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 4: Satī Quits Her Body

Satī goes to Dakṣa’s sacrifice, condemns his offense against Lord Śiva, and gives up her body.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āfrom all sides
  2. brahma-ghoṣawith the sounds of the Vedic hymns
  3. ūrjitadecorated
  4. yajñasacrifice
  5. vaiśasamdestruction of animals
  6. viprarṣi-juṣṭamattended by the great sages
  7. vibudhaiḥwith demigods
  8. caand
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.4

    In this verse: “chanting”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.4

    In this verse: “father’s”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.4

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make time for the simple sacrifice of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Chant attentively today: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

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.

The purport quotesSB 11.5.32

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.4's connections

Live this todayChanting Is the Sacrifice for This AgeThis 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 4.4.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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