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

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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 5: Frustration of the Sacrifice of Dakṣa
4.5.224.5.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.5.23

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

शस्त्रैरस्त्रान्वितैरेवमनिर्भिन्नत्वचं हर: ।

विस्मयं परमापन्नो दध्यौ पशुपतिश्चिरम् ॥ २३ ॥

śastrair astrānvitair evam

anirbhinna-tvacaṁ haraḥ

vismayaṁ param āpanno

dadhyau paśupatiś ciram

Translation

He tried to cut the head of Dakṣa with hymns as well as weapons, but still it was hard to cut even the surface of the skin of Dakṣa’s head. Thus Vīrabhadra was exceedingly bewildered.

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.

Failed Attempts Bring Bewilderment

  1. 1

    Vīrabhadra tried to cut off Dakṣa’s head using hymns as well as weapons.

  2. 2

    Even cutting the surface of the skin of Dakṣa’s head proved difficult.

  3. 3

    Vīrabhadra became exceedingly bewildered when these methods did not succeed.

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. śastraiḥwith weapons
  2. astra-anvitaiḥwith hymns ( mantras)
  3. evamthus
  4. anirbhinnanot being cut
  5. tvacamthe skin
  6. haraḥVīrabhadra
  7. vismayambewilderment
  8. paramgreatest
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do I respond when methods I expect to work prove unsuccessful?

Practice

Reread the verse and identify the methods Vīrabhadra used and the feeling that followed their failure.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFailed Attempts Bring BewildermentThis 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 4.5.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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