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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

4.5.2 4.5.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.5.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.5.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ततोऽतिकायस्तनुवा स्पृशन्दिवं

सहस्रबाहुर्घनरुक् त्रिसूर्यद‍ृक् ।

करालदंष्ट्रो ज्वलदग्निमूर्धज:

कपालमाली विविधोद्यतायुध: ॥ ३ ॥

tato ’tikāyas tanuvā spṛśan divaṁ

sahasra-bāhur ghana-ruk tri-sūrya-dṛk

karāla-daṁṣṭro jvalad-agni-mūrdhajaḥ

kapāla-mālī vividhodyatāyudhaḥ

Translation

A fearful black demon as high as the sky and as bright as three suns combined was thereby created, his teeth very fearful and the hairs on his head like burning fire. He had thousands of arms, equipped with various weapons, and he was garlanded with the heads of men.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Fearful Being Appears

1
A fearful black demon appeared, as high as the sky and as bright as three suns combined.
2
His teeth were terrifying, and the hair on his head resembled burning fire.
3
He had thousands of arms equipped with various weapons and wore a garland of men’s heads.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tataḥat this time
atikāyaḥa great personality (Vīrabhadra)
tanuvāwith his body
spṛśantouching
divamthe sky
sahasraa thousand
bāhuḥarms
ghana-rukof black color

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: “fearful”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do the descriptions of size, brightness, and weapons convey this being’s fearsome power?

Practice

Write down three features used in the translation to describe the fearful being.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Fearful Being AppearsThis 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 4.5.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories