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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.5.20

Who is speaking and story frame

भगस्य नेत्रे भगवान् पातितस्य रुषा भुवि ।

उज्जहार सदस्थोऽक्ष्णा य: शपन्तमसूसुचत् ॥ २० ॥

bhagasya netre bhagavān

pātitasya ruṣā bhuvi

ujjahāra sada-stho ’kṣṇā

yaḥ śapantam asūsucat

Translation

Vīrabhadra immediately caught Bhaga, who had been moving his eyebrows during Bhṛgu’s cursing of Lord Śiva, and out of great anger thrust him to the ground and forcibly put out his eyes.

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.

Anger Leads to Severe Violence

  1. 1

    Bhaga had been moving his eyebrows during Bhṛgu’s cursing of Lord Śiva.

  2. 2

    Vīrabhadra immediately caught Bhaga and, in great anger, thrust him to the ground.

  3. 3

    Vīrabhadra forcibly put out Bhaga’s eyes.

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. bhagasyaof Bhaga
  2. netreboth eyes
  3. bhagavānVīrabhadra
  4. pātitasyahaving been thrust
  5. ruṣāwith great anger
  6. bhuvion the ground
  7. ujjahāraplucked out
  8. sada-sthaḥwhile situated in the assembly of the Viśvasṛks
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this description of great anger and violence make me reflect on my own responses when upset?

Practice

If anger arises today, pause before responding with words or gestures.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAnger Leads to Severe ViolenceThis 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 4.5.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.