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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 7: The Sacrifice Performed by Dakṣa
4.7.134.7.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.14

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Dakṣasince 4.7.13inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

विद्यातपोव्रतधरान् मुखत: स्म विप्रान्

ब्रह्मात्मतत्त्वमवितुं प्रथमं त्वमस्राक् ।

तद्ब्राह्मणान् परम सर्वविपत्सु पासि

पाल: पशूनिव विभो प्रगृहीतदण्ड: ॥ १४ ॥

vidyā-tapo-vrata-dharān mukhataḥ sma viprān

brahmātma-tattvam avituṁ prathamaṁ tvam asrāk

tad brāhmaṇān parama sarva-vipatsu pāsi

pālaḥ paśūn iva vibho pragṛhīta-daṇḍaḥ

Translation

My dear great and powerful Lord Śiva, you were created first from the mouth of Lord Brahmā in order to protect the brāhmaṇas in pursuing education, austerities, vows and self-realization. As protector of the brāhmaṇas, you always protect the regulative principles they follow, just as a cowherd boy keeps a stick in his hand to give protection to the cows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Rituals Must Lead to Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Whatever one's social status, human life calls for control of the mind and senses through the regulative principles of the Vedic śāstras.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva, addressed here as the representative of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, protects living entities in their pursuit of self-realization.

  3. 3

    Vedic rituals without understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead and developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness are simply wasted labor. Their purpose is advancement in devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva is called paśupati because he protects the living entities in their developed consciousness so that they may follow the Vedic system of varṇa and āśrama.
  • Lord Śiva is known as paśupati, the protector of the brāhmaṇas and other living entities.
  • Persons who are simply attached to Vedic rituals, without further advancement of devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, are almost like animals, and Lord Śiva is in charge of giving them protection and sometimes punishing them, as he punished Dakṣa.

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 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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vidyālearning
  2. tapaḥausterities
  3. vratavows
  4. dharānthe followers
  5. mukhataḥfrom the mouth
  6. smawas
  7. viprānthe brāhmaṇas
  8. brahmāLord Brahmā
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “protect”, “protects”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.7

    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

Are your spiritual practices helping you grow in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or becoming mere routine?

Practice

Before one spiritual practice today, consciously renew your intention to advance in devotional service rather than merely complete a ritual.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRituals Must Lead to Devotional ServiceThis 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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