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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
4.6.344.6.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.35

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

विद्यातपोयोगपथमास्थितं तमधीश्वरम् ।

चरन्तं विश्वसुहृदं वात्सल्याल्लोकमङ्गलम् ॥ ३५ ॥

vidyā-tapo-yoga-patham

āsthitaṁ tam adhīśvaram

carantaṁ viśva-suhṛdaṁ

vātsalyāl loka-maṅgalam

Translation

The demigods saw Lord Śiva situated in his perfection as the master of the senses, knowledge, fruitive activities and the path of achieving perfection. He was the friend of the entire world, and by virtue of his full affection for everyone, he was very auspicious.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify the Senses Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva is full of wisdom and austerity. He exemplifies perfection in knowing how to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Materially contaminated senses tend toward sense gratification. Through wisdom and austerity, they become purified and engaged in the Lord’s service.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva is a Vaiṣṇava who teaches conditioned souls how to engage in devotional service twenty-four hours a day. His affectionate guidance is good fortune for everyone.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva is full of wisdom and tapasya, austerity.
  • One cannot serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead unless one has achieved full perfectional knowledge in the ways and means of performing devotional service.
  • Lord Śiva, by his actions within this material world, teaches all conditioned souls how to engage in devotional service twenty-four hours a day.

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. vidyāknowledge
  2. tapaḥausterity
  3. yoga-pathamthe path of devotional service
  4. āsthitamsituated
  5. tamhim (Lord Śiva)
  6. adhīśvaramthe master of the senses
  7. carantamperforming (austerity, etc.)
  8. viśva-suhṛdamthe friend of the whole world
  9. vātsalyātout of full affection
  10. loka-maṅgalamauspicious for everyone
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “wisdom”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “materially”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “purified”, “contaminated”

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 could you use one of your senses in the Lord’s service rather than for personal gratification?

Practice

Spend five minutes using your voice to read aloud about devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurify the Senses Through Devotional ServiceThis 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 4.6.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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