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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
4.6.284.6.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.29

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

रक्तकण्ठखगानीकस्वरमण्डितषट्पदम् ।

कलहंसकुलप्रेष्ठं खरदण्डजलाशयम् ॥ २९ ॥

rakta-kaṇṭha-khagānīka-

svara-maṇḍita-ṣaṭpadam

kalahaṁsa-kula-preṣṭhaṁ

kharadaṇḍa-jalāśayam

Translation

In that celestial forest there were many birds whose necks were colored reddish and whose sweet sounds mixed with the humming of the bees. The lakes were abundantly decorated with crying swans as well as strong-stemmed lotus flowers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Extraordinary Beauty of Kailāsa’s Forest

  1. 1

    Birds with reddish necks made sweet sounds that mingled with the humming of bees.

  2. 2

    Lakes intensified the forest’s beauty. They were decorated with strong-stemmed lotus flowers and swans that played and sang.

  3. 3

    The demigods passing through enjoyed this beautiful atmosphere. The purport says that no beautiful places made by people on earth can surpass the beauty described here.

Key points from the purport
  • The beauty of the forest was intensified by the presence of various lakes.
  • It is described herein that the lakes were decorated with lotus flowers and with swans who played and sang with the birds and the humming bees.
  • There are many paths and beautiful spots created by man on this planet earth, but none of them can surpass those of Kailāsa, as they are described in these verses.

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. raktareddish
  2. kaṇṭhanecks
  3. khaga-anīkaof many birds
  4. svarawith the sweet sounds
  5. maṇḍitadecorated
  6. ṣaṭ-padambees
  7. kalahaṁsa-kulaof groups of swans
  8. preṣṭhamvery dear
  9. khara-daṇḍalotus flowers
  10. jala-āśayamlakes
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “sweet”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “crying”

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 sounds and sights together deepen my appreciation of this description?

Practice

Spend one minute reading the scene attentively, noticing both its sounds and its sights.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Extraordinary Beauty of Kailāsa’s ForestThis 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 4.6.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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