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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
4.7.214.7.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.22

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

तमुपागतमालक्ष्य सर्वे सुरगणादय: ।

प्रणेमु: सहसोत्थाय ब्रह्मेन्द्रत्र्यक्षनायका: ॥ २२ ॥

tam upāgatam ālakṣya

sarve sura-gaṇādayaḥ

praṇemuḥ sahasotthāya

brahmendra-tryakṣa-nāyakāḥ

Translation

As soon as Lord Viṣṇu was visible, all the demigods — Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, the Gandharvas and all present there — immediately offered their respectful obeisances by falling down straight before Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Viṣṇu Is Worshipable by All

  1. 1

    When Lord Viṣṇu appeared, everyone present immediately offered respectful obeisances. Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva also bowed before Him.

  2. 2

    Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, worshipable even by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva.

  3. 3

    The demigods worship Lord Viṣṇu, and yogīs concentrate their minds on His form. Their worship acknowledges His supreme position.

Key points from the purport
  • It is stated in a prayer, yaṁ brahmā varuṇendra-rudra-marutāḥ: all the demigods worship Lord Viṣṇu.
  • Thus Lord Viṣṇu is worshipable by all demigods, all Gandharvas and even Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā.
  • Even though Lord Śiva was previously referred to in prayers by Lord Brahmā as the Supreme, when Lord Viṣṇu appeared, Śiva also fell prostrated before Him to offer respectful obeisances.

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. tamHim
  2. upāgatamarrived
  3. ālakṣyaafter seeing
  4. sarveall
  5. sura-gaṇa-ādayaḥthe demigods and others
  6. praṇemuḥobeisances
  7. sahasāimmediately
  8. utthāyaafter standing up
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: “worshipable”

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

What does Lord Śiva’s bowing before Lord Viṣṇu teach me about the Lord’s position?

Practice

Offer a respectful bow to Lord Viṣṇu, remembering that He is worshipable by all.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Viṣṇu Is Worshipable by AllThis 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 4.7.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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