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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 6: Brahmā Satisfies Lord Śiva
4.6.324.6.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

तस्मिन्महायोगमये मुमुक्षुशरणे सुरा: ।

दद‍ृशु: शिवमासीनं त्यक्तामर्षमिवान्तकम् ॥ ३३ ॥

tasmin mahā-yogamaye

mumukṣu-śaraṇe surāḥ

dadṛśuḥ śivam āsīnaṁ

tyaktāmarṣam ivāntakam

Translation

The demigods saw Lord Śiva sitting under that tree, which was competent to give perfection to mystic yogīs and deliver all people. As grave as time eternal, he appeared to have given up all anger.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remembering Viṣṇu Is Devotional Meditation

  1. 1

    The demigods saw Lord Śiva seated beneath the tree, grave as eternal time and apparently free from anger. Many great yogīs and devotees were also there, meditating on Lord Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    Yoga means meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and mahā-yoga refers to devotional service to Viṣṇu. Remembering His form within the heart is smaraṇam, one of the nine processes of devotional service.

  3. 3

    Such meditators generally desire freedom from material bondage and are promoted to a Vaikuṇṭha planet. Liberation means freedom from the miserable condition of repeated suffering caused by bodily identification.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus there were many devotees engaged in meditation on Lord Viṣṇu under the big banyan tree.
  • This affix is used when there is a great number or quantity, so mahā-yoga indicates that there were many great yogīs and devotees meditating on the form of Lord Viṣṇu.
  • Liberation means freedom from material bondage or nescience.

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. tasminunder that tree
  2. mahā-yoga-mayehaving many sages engaged in meditation on the Supreme
  3. mumukṣuof those who desire liberation
  4. śaraṇethe shelter
  5. surāḥthe demigods
  6. dadṛśuḥsaw
  7. śivamLord Śiva
  8. āsīnamseated
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “suffering”

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 understanding meditation as remembering Viṣṇu clarify its devotional purpose for me?

Practice

Sit quietly for a few minutes and remember Lord Viṣṇu’s form, approaching this remembrance as devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembering Viṣṇu Is Devotional MeditationThis 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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