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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
4.6.364.6.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.37

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

उपविष्टं दर्भमय्यां बृस्यां ब्रह्म सनातनम् ।

नारदाय प्रवोचन्तं पृच्छते श‍ृण्वतां सताम् ॥ ३७ ॥

upaviṣṭaṁ darbhamayyāṁ

bṛsyāṁ brahma sanātanam

nāradāya pravocantaṁ

pṛcchate śṛṇvatāṁ satām

Translation

He was seated on a straw mattress and speaking to all present, including the great sage Nārada, to whom he specifically spoke about the Absolute Truth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is Vedic Knowledge’s Supreme Subject

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva sat on a straw mattress, a seat accepted by those practicing austerities to understand the Absolute Truth.

  2. 2

    Nārada asked Lord Śiva about devotional service. Lord Śiva, the topmost Vaiṣṇava, instructed him.

  3. 3

    Their discussion of Vedic knowledge centered on bhakti, or devotional service. This is the supreme subject matter of Vedic knowledge.

Key points from the purport
  • Nārada was asking Lord Śiva about devotional service, and Śiva, being the topmost Vaiṣṇava, was instructing him.
  • In other words, Lord Śiva and Nārada were discussing the knowledge of the Veda, but it is to be understood that the subject matter was devotional service.
  • Another point in this connection is that Lord Śiva is the supreme instructor and the great sage Nārada is the supreme audience.

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. upaviṣṭamseated
  2. darbha-mayyāmmade of darbha, straw
  3. bṛsyāmon a mattress
  4. brahmathe Absolute Truth
  5. sanātanamthe eternal
  6. nāradāyaunto Nārada
  7. pravocantamspeaking
  8. pṛcchateasking
  9. śṛṇvatāmlistening
  10. satāmof the great sages
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: “absolute truth”, “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

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

Are your spiritual questions helping you understand how to engage in devotional service?

Practice

Write down one sincere question about devotional service that you would like to understand better.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Vedic Knowledge’s Supreme SubjectThis 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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