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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
4.6.354.6.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.36

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

लिङ्गं च तापसाभीष्टं भस्मदण्डजटाजिनम् ।

अङ्गेन सन्ध्याभ्ररुचा चन्द्रलेखां च बिभ्रतम् ॥ ३६ ॥

liṅgaṁ ca tāpasābhīṣṭaṁ

bhasma-daṇḍa-jaṭājinam

aṅgena sandhyābhra-rucā

candra-lekhāṁ ca bibhratam

Translation

He was seated on a deerskin and was practicing all forms of austerity. Because his body was smeared with ashes, he looked like an evening cloud. On his hair was the sign of a half-moon, a symbolic representation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Śiva Without Imitating His Appearance

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva sat on a deerskin, practicing austerity, with ashes on his body and a half-moon on his hair.

  2. 2

    Although Lord Śiva is the number one Vaiṣṇava, his outward symptoms of austerity are not exactly those of a Vaiṣṇava. He exhibits this feature for people who cannot follow Vaiṣṇava principles.

  3. 3

    Some followers of Lord Śiva imitate his dress and indulge in smoking or intoxicants. Such practices are never accepted by followers of Vaiṣṇava rituals.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva’s symptoms of austerity are not exactly those of a Vaiṣṇava.
  • Lord Śiva is certainly the number one Vaiṣṇava, but he exhibits a feature for a particular class of men who cannot follow the Vaiṣṇava principles.
  • The Śaivites, the devotees of Lord Śiva, generally dress like Lord Śiva, and sometimes they indulge in smoking and taking intoxicants.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. liṅgamsymptom
  2. caand
  3. tāpasa-abhīṣṭamdesired by Śaivite ascetics
  4. bhasmaashes
  5. daṇḍastaff
  6. jaṭāmatted hair
  7. ajinamantelope skin
  8. aṅgenawith his body
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “principles”

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 can you distinguish honoring Lord Śiva from imitating practices that Vaiṣṇavas do not accept?

Practice

Write one sentence distinguishing Lord Śiva’s exalted devotional position from the outward practices described here.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Śiva Without Imitating His AppearanceThis 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 4.6.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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