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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
4.6.384.6.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.39

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

तं ब्रह्मनिर्वाणसमाधिमाश्रितं

व्युपाश्रितं गिरिशं योगकक्षाम् ।

सलोकपाला मुनयो मनूनाम्

आद्यं मनुं प्राञ्जलय: प्रणेमु: ॥ ३९ ॥

taṁ brahma-nirvāṇa-samādhim āśritaṁ

vyupāśritaṁ giriśaṁ yoga-kakṣām

sa-loka-pālā munayo manūnām

ādyaṁ manuṁ prāñjalayaḥ praṇemuḥ

Translation

All the sages and demigods, headed by Indra, offered their respectful obeisances unto Lord Śiva with folded hands. Lord Śiva was dressed in saffron garments and absorbed in trance, thus appearing to be the foremost of all sages.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Meditation and Compassion in Lord Śiva

  1. 1

    Brahmānanda means complete absorption in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond material sense perception. The Lord always exists in His eternal form.

  2. 2

    Constant, concentrated meditation on the Lord’s form is called samādhi. Lord Śiva displayed this absorption and was honored as the foremost of thinkers.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva does not engage in useless mental speculation. He thinks about delivering fallen souls and elevating them to devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva exhibited those symptoms, and therefore it is stated that he was absorbed in brahmānanda.
  • Since people were engaged in useless occupations which would continue their material existence, Lord Śiva, in the form of Lord Advaita, appealed to the Supreme Lord to appear as Lord Caitanya to deliver these illusioned souls.
  • Actually Lord Caitanya appeared on the request of Lord Advaita.

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. tamhim (Lord Śiva)
  2. brahma-nirvāṇain brahmānanda
  3. samādhimin trance
  4. āśritamabsorbed
  5. vyupāśritamleaning on
  6. giriśamLord Śiva
  7. yoga-kakṣāmhaving his left knee firmly fixed with a knotted cloth
  8. sa-loka-pālāḥalong with the demigods (headed by Indra)
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 your thoughts become more centered on the Lord and the spiritual welfare of others?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute to concentrate your attention on the eternal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.6's connections

Live this todayMeditation and Compassion in Lord ŚivaThis 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 4.6.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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