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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
4.5.64.5.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.5.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.5.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अथर्त्विजो यजमान: सदस्या:

ककुभ्युदीच्यां प्रसमीक्ष्य रेणुम् ।

तम: किमेतत्कुत एतद्रजोऽभू-

दिति द्विजा द्विजपत्‍न्यश्च दध्यु: ॥ ७ ॥

athartvijo yajamānaḥ sadasyāḥ

kakubhy udīcyāṁ prasamīkṣya reṇum

tamaḥ kim etat kuta etad rajo ’bhūd

iti dvijā dvija-patnyaś ca dadhyuḥ

Translation

At that time, all the persons assembled in the sacrificial arena — the priests, the chief of the sacrificial performance, and the brāhmaṇas and their wives — wondered where the darkness was coming from. Later they could understand that it was a dust storm, and all of them were full of anxiety.

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.

Darkness Brings Anxiety to the Assembly

  1. 1

    The priests, the chief of the sacrifice, and the assembled brāhmaṇas and their wives saw an unexpected darkness.

  2. 2

    They wondered where it was coming from and later understood that it was a dust storm.

  3. 3

    All those assembled became full of anxiety.

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. athaat that time
  2. ṛtvijaḥthe priests
  3. yajamānaḥthe chief person performing the sacrifice (Dakṣa)
  4. sadasyāḥall the persons assembled in the sacrificial arena
  5. kakubhi udīcyāmin the northern direction
  6. prasamīkṣyaseeing
  7. reṇumthe dust storm
  8. tamaḥdarkness
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.5

    In this verse: “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does uncertainty affect me when something unexpected happens?

Practice

When uncertainty arises today, distinguish what you have observed from what you do not yet understand.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDarkness Brings Anxiety to the AssemblyThis 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 4.5.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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