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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
4.5.174.5.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.5.18

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

सर्व एवर्त्विजो दृष्ट्वा सदस्या: सदिवौकस: ।

तैरर्द्यमाना: सुभृशं ग्रावभिर्नैकधाद्रवन् ॥ १८ ॥

sarva evartvijo dṛṣṭvā

sadasyāḥ sa-divaukasaḥ

tair ardyamānāḥ subhṛśaṁ

grāvabhir naikadhā ’dravan

Translation

There was a continuous shower of stones, and all the priests and other members assembled at the sacrifice were put into immense misery. For fear of their lives, they dispersed in different directions.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Assembly Scatters in Fear

  1. 1

    A continuous shower of stones struck the sacrificial gathering.

  2. 2

    All the priests and other assembled members suffered immense misery.

  3. 3

    Fearing for their lives, they dispersed in different directions.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sarveall
  2. evacertainly
  3. ṛtvijaḥthe priests
  4. dṛṣṭvāafter seeing
  5. sadasyāḥall the members assembled in the sacrifice
  6. sa-divaukasaḥalong with the demigods
  7. taiḥby those (stones)
  8. ardyamānāḥbeing disturbed
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fear”, “fearing”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What helps me remain sensitive to the suffering of people caught in violence?

Practice

Pause for a moment and reflect on the fear and misery described here, without treating the violence lightly.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Assembly Scatters in FearThis 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 4.5.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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