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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
4.7.174.7.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.7.18inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अध्वर्युणात्तहविषा यजमानो विशाम्पते ।

धिया विशुद्धया दध्यौ तथा प्रादुरभूद्धरि: ॥ १८ ॥

adhvaryuṇātta-haviṣā

yajamāno viśāmpate

dhiyā viśuddhayā dadhyau

tathā prādurabhūd dhariḥ

Translation

The great sage Maitreya said to Vidura: My dear Vidura, as soon as King Dakṣa offered the clarified butter with Yajur Veda mantras in sanctified meditation, Lord Viṣṇu appeared there in His original form as Nārāyaṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love Opens Our Eyes to the Lord

  1. 1

    As Dakṣa offered clarified butter with Yajur Veda mantras in sanctified meditation, Lord Viṣṇu appeared in His original form as Nārāyaṇa.

  2. 2

    Lord Viṣṇu is all-pervading. A devotee who follows the regulative principles and chants the required mantras in a devotional mood can see Him.

  3. 3

    A devotee whose eyes are anointed with love of Godhead can always see the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the heart. Lord Śyāmasundara is so kind to His devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • Any devotee who, in sanctified meditation, following the regulative principles, chants the required mantras in service and in a devotional mood can see Viṣṇu.
  • It is said in the Brahma-saṁhitā that a devotee whose eyes are anointed with the ointment of love of Godhead can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead always within his heart.
  • Lord Śyāmasundara is so kind to His devotee.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. adhvaryuṇāwith the Yajur Veda
  2. āttataking
  3. haviṣāwith clarified butter
  4. yajamānaḥKing Dakṣa
  5. viśām-pateO Vidura
  6. dhiyāin meditation
  7. viśuddhayāsanctified
  8. dadhyauoffered
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”

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 can you bring a more loving, devotional mood to your chanting?

Practice

Give a brief period today to attentive chanting, consciously approaching the Lord with love and a desire to serve.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Opens Our Eyes to the LordThis 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 4.7.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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