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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
4.5.84.5.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.5.9

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

प्रसूतिमिश्रा: स्त्रिय उद्विग्नचित्ता

ऊचुर्विपाको वृजिनस्यैव तस्य ।

यत्पश्यन्तीनां दुहितृणां प्रजेश:

सुतां सतीमवदध्यावनागाम् ॥ ९ ॥

prasūti-miśrāḥ striya udvigna-cittā

ūcur vipāko vṛjinasyaiva tasya

yat paśyantīnāṁ duhitṝṇāṁ prajeśaḥ

sutāṁ satīm avadadhyāv anāgām

Translation

Prasūti, the wife of Dakṣa, along with the other women assembled, became very anxious and said: This danger has been created by Dakṣa because of the death of Satī, who, even though completely innocent, quit her body as her sisters looked on.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hardhearted Treatment Brings Grave Consequences

  1. 1

    Softhearted Prasūti understood that the approaching danger resulted from Dakṣa’s impious activity. Satī was completely innocent.

  2. 2

    Dakṣa deliberately received his other daughters but neglected Satī because she was Lord Śiva’s wife. Prasūti understood how deeply this insult had hurt her.

  3. 3

    Dakṣa did not save Satī when she gave up her body in her sisters’ presence. Prasūti recognized that his cruelty had brought grave danger upon him.

Key points from the purport
  • Prasūti, being a softhearted woman, could immediately understand that the imminent danger approaching was due to the impious activity of hardhearted Prajāpati Dakṣa.
  • Satī had been present along with the other daughters, and Dakṣa had purposely received all of them but her because she happened to be the wife of Lord Śiva.
  • This consideration convinced the wife of Dakṣa of the danger which was now ahead, and thus she knew that Dakṣa must be prepared to die for his heinous act.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prasūti-miśrāḥheaded by Prasūti
  2. striyaḥthe women
  3. udvigna-cittāḥbeing very anxious
  4. ūcuḥsaid
  5. vipākaḥthe resultant danger
  6. vṛjinasyaof the sinful activity
  7. evaindeed
  8. tasyahis (Dakṣa’s)
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “danger”, “death”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.5

    In this verse: “gave up”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Have I overlooked someone’s pain because of my prejudice toward someone close to them?

Practice

Offer a kind acknowledgment today to someone you have overlooked.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHardhearted Treatment Brings Grave ConsequencesThis 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.

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