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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 7: The Sacrifice Performed by Dakṣa
4.7.104.7.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.7.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

भवस्तवाय कृतधीर्नाशक्नोदनुरागत: ।

औत्कण्ठ्याद्बाष्पकलया सम्परेतां सुतां स्मरन् ॥ ११ ॥

bhava-stavāya kṛta-dhīr

nāśaknod anurāgataḥ

autkaṇṭhyād bāṣpa-kalayā

samparetāṁ sutāṁ smaran

Translation

King Dakṣa wanted to offer prayers to Lord Śiva, but as he remembered the ill-fated death of his daughter Satī, his eyes filled with tears, and in bereavement his voice choked up and he could not say anything.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Grief Can Leave Us Unable to Pray

  1. 1

    King Dakṣa wanted to offer prayers to Lord Śiva, but he could not speak.

  2. 2

    Remembering the ill-fated death of his daughter Satī filled his eyes with tears.

  3. 3

    His voice choked with bereavement. His wish to pray remained, even though words would not come.

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 7: The Sacrifice Performed by Dakṣa

Lord Śiva is pacified, Dakṣa acknowledges his offense, and Lord Viṣṇu accepts the sacrifice.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhava-stavāyafor praying to Lord Śiva
  2. kṛta-dhīḥalthough decided
  3. nanever
  4. aśaknotwas able
  5. anurāgataḥby feeling
  6. autkaṇṭhyātbecause of eagerness
  7. bāṣpa-kalayāwith tears in the eyes
  8. samparetāmdead
  9. sutāmdaughter
  10. smaranremembering
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “death”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “king”

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

Have you ever wanted to pray but found that grief left you without words?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to acknowledge any sorrow you carry and your wish to pray.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGrief Can Leave Us Unable to PrayThis 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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