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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
4.6.414.6.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.6.42

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 4.6.42inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ब्रह्मोवाच

जाने त्वामीशं विश्वस्य जगतो योनिबीजयो: ।

शक्ते: शिवस्य च परं यत्तद्ब्रह्म निरन्तरम् ॥ ४२ ॥

brahmovāca

jāne tvām īśaṁ viśvasya

jagato yoni-bījayoḥ

śakteḥ śivasya ca paraṁ

yat tad brahma nirantaram

Translation

Lord Brahmā said: My dear Lord Śiva, I know that you are the controller of the entire material manifestation, the combination father and mother of the cosmic manifestation, and the Supreme Brahman beyond the cosmic manifestation as well. I know you in that way.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand Śiva’s Relationship With Viṣṇu

  1. 1

    Brahmā addressed Lord Śiva as the controller of the material manifestation and as beyond the cosmic manifestation.

  2. 2

    Although Śiva had offered him respectful obeisances, Brahmā knew that Śiva occupied a more exalted position than himself.

  3. 3

    In their original positions, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu are not different, yet Śiva is also different from Viṣṇu. The purport illustrates this with yogurt and the original milk from which it was made.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Lord Brahmā had received very respectful obeisances from Lord Śiva, he knew that Lord Śiva was in a more exalted position than himself.
  • Lord Śiva’s position is described in Brahma-saṁhitā: there is no difference between Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva in their original positions, but still Lord Śiva is different from Lord Viṣṇu.
  • The example is given that the milk in yogurt is not different from the original milk from which it was made.

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. brahmā uvācaLord Brahmā said
  2. jāneI know
  3. tvāmyou (Lord Śiva)
  4. īśamthe controller
  5. viśvasyaof the entire material manifestation
  6. jagataḥof the cosmic manifestation
  7. yoni-bījayoḥof both the mother and father
  8. śakteḥof potency
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.6

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 the milk-and-yogurt example help you hold both similarity and difference in mind?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining the milk-and-yogurt comparison without leaving out either similarity or difference.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand Śiva’s Relationship With ViṣṇuThis 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 4.6.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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