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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 5: Frustration of the Sacrifice of Dakṣa
4.5.114.5.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.5.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Conjecturing on the origin of the storm, theysince 4.5.8inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

बह्वेवमुद्विग्नद‍ृशोच्यमाने

जनेन दक्षस्य मुहुर्महात्मन: ।

उत्पेतुरुत्पाततमा: सहस्रशो

भयावहा दिवि भूमौ च पर्यक् ॥ १२ ॥

bahv evam udvigna-dṛśocyamāne

janena dakṣasya muhur mahātmanaḥ

utpetur utpātatamāḥ sahasraśo

bhayāvahā divi bhūmau ca paryak

Translation

While all the people talked amongst themselves, Dakṣa saw dangerous omens from all sides, from the earth and from the sky.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Great Soul Shows Devotional Qualities

  1. 1

    Dakṣa remained unshaken even when his beloved daughter was prepared to give up her life. Yet the dangerous disturbances now troubled him.

  2. 2

    The word mahātmā is used sarcastically for Dakṣa. A person without the qualities of a great soul should not be considered one merely because of a title.

  3. 3

    A true mahātmā is a pure devotee under the guidance of the internal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Dakṣa’s misbehavior showed that he lacked the good qualities expected of such a devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse Dakṣa has been described as mahātmā.
  • A mahātmā is supposed to have all the good qualities of the demigods, and thus Dakṣa, lacking those qualities, could not be called a mahātmā; he should instead be called durātmā, a degraded soul.
  • The word mahātmā to describe the qualifications of Dakṣa is used sarcastically.

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 4.5.12 quotesBG 9.13

In Bhagavad-gītā (9.13) the word mahātmā describes the pure devotee of the Lord: mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ.

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 5: Frustration of the Sacrifice of Dakṣa

Lord Śiva’s soldiers destroy Dakṣa’s sacrificial arena, and Vīrabhadra beheads Dakṣa.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.5
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bahumuch
  2. evamin this manner
  3. udvigna-dṛśāwith nervous glances
  4. ucyamānewhile this was being said
  5. janenaby the persons (assembled at the sacrifice)
  6. dakṣasyaof Dakṣa
  7. muhuḥagain and again
  8. mahā-ātmanaḥstronghearted
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.5

    In this verse: “dangerous”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.5

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.5

    In this verse: “give up”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I more concerned with being regarded as devotional or with showing a devotee’s good qualities?

Practice

Choose one interaction today in which to show kindness rather than seek recognition.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Great Soul Shows Devotional QualitiesThis 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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