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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 6: Brahmā Satisfies Lord Śiva
4.6.224.6.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.23

Sthāna· The universe in order
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

दद‍ृशुस्तत्र ते रम्यामलकां नाम वै पुरीम् ।

वनं सौगन्धिकं चापि यत्र तन्नाम पङ्कजम् ॥ २३ ॥

dadṛśus tatra te ramyām

alakāṁ nāma vai purīm

vanaṁ saugandhikaṁ cāpi

yatra tan-nāma paṅkajam

Translation

Thus the demigods saw the wonderfully beautiful region known as Alakā in the forest known as Saugandhika, which means “full of fragrance.” The forest is known as Saugandhika because of its abundance of lotus flowers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Alakā’s Uncommon Beauty and Lotus Fragrance

  1. 1

    The demigods saw the beautiful region of Alakā in Saugandhika, a forest whose name means “full of fragrance.”

  2. 2

    This Alakā is different from Kuvera’s abode, Alakā-purī, which cannot be seen from Kailāsa.

  3. 3

    According to Vīrarāghava Ācārya, alakā means “uncommonly beautiful.” The Saugandhika lotus there distributes an especially fragrant scent.

Key points from the purport
  • Sometimes Alakā is known as Alakā-purī, which is also the name of the abode of Kuvera.
  • Therefore the region of Alakā referred to here is different from the Alakā-purī of Kuvera.
  • In the region of Alakā that the demigods saw, there is a type of lotus flower known as Saugandhika that distributes an especially fragrant scent.

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 6: Brahmā Satisfies Lord Śiva

Brahmā and the demigods approach Lord Śiva, asking him to show mercy.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dadṛśuḥsaw
  2. tatrathere (in Kailāsa)
  3. tethey (the demigods)
  4. ramyāmvery attractive
  5. alakāmAlakā
  6. nāmaknown as
  7. vaiindeed
  8. purīmabode
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do the meanings of Alakā and Saugandhika help you remember this region?

Practice

Write the two names Alakā and Saugandhika beside their meanings given in the text.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAlakā’s Uncommon Beauty and Lotus FragranceThis 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 4.6.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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