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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
4.6.264.6.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.27

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

तारहेममहारत्नविमानशतसङ्कुलाम् ।

जुष्टां पुण्यजनस्त्रीभिर्यथा खं सतडिद्घनम् ॥ २७ ॥

tāra-hema-mahāratna-

vimāna-śata-saṅkulām

juṣṭāṁ puṇyajana-strībhir

yathā khaṁ sataḍid-ghanam

Translation

The airplanes of the heavenly denizens are bedecked with pearls, gold and many valuable jewels. The heavenly denizens are compared to clouds in the sky decorated with occasional flashes of electric lightning.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Splendor of Heavenly Airplanes

  1. 1

    The heavenly airplanes are decorated with pearls, gold and valuable jewels. They differ from the airplanes familiar to us on earth.

  2. 2

    The purport describes airplanes on other planets as operated by mantric hymns rather than machines. The inhabitants of Siddhalokas can travel between planets without airplanes.

  3. 3

    The passengers are compared to clouds, and the beautiful damsels to lightning. These airplanes and their passengers arriving at Kailāsa were very pleasant to behold.

Key points from the purport
  • On different planets there are different kinds of airplanes.
  • On other planets which are called Siddhalokas, the denizens can travel from one planet to another without airplanes.
  • The beautiful airplanes from the heavenly planets are compared here to the sky because they fly in the sky; the passengers are compared to the clouds.

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. tāra-hemaof pearls and gold
  2. mahā-ratnavaluable jewels
  3. vimānaof airplanes
  4. śatawith hundreds
  5. saṅkulāmcrowded
  6. juṣṭāmoccupied, enjoyed
  7. puṇyajana-strībhiḥby the wives of the Yakṣas
  8. yathāas
  9. khamthe sky
  10. sa-taḍit-ghanamwith the lightning and the clouds
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 does the comparison with clouds and lightning help me picture this scene?

Practice

Reread the description and identify the images used for the passengers and the damsels.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Splendor of Heavenly AirplanesThis 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 4.6.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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