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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
4.7.234.7.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.24

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

अप्यर्वाग्वृत्तयो यस्य महि त्वात्मभुवादय: ।

यथामति गृणन्ति स्म कृतानुग्रहविग्रहम् ॥ २४ ॥

apy arvāg-vṛttayo yasya

mahi tv ātmabhuv-ādayaḥ

yathā-mati gṛṇanti sma

kṛtānugraha-vigraham

Translation

Although the mental scope of even demigods like Brahmā was unable to comprehend the unlimited glories of the Supreme Lord, they were all able to perceive the transcendental form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His grace. Only by such grace could they offer their respectful prayers according to their different capacities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Begin Service With the Tongue

  1. 1

    The Lord’s glories are unlimited and cannot be fully described, even by Lord Brahmā. By His grace, one can perceive His transcendental form and offer prayers according to one’s capacity.

  2. 2

    Our capacity to serve increases with the service spirit. Service begins with the tongue through chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and accepting the Lord’s prasāda.

  3. 3

    Engaging the tongue in chanting and accepting prasāda helps control the other senses. As service increases, the Lord reveals more and more to the devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, is always unlimited, and His glories cannot be completely enumerated by anyone, even by a personality like Lord Brahmā.
  • It is not possible for any ordinary living entity to understand or to glorify the unlimited Personality of Godhead, but one can offer prayers or service to the Lord according to one’s particular capacity.
  • We have to begin our service to the Unlimited with the tongue and become perfect in chanting, and accepting the Lord’s prasāda.

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. apistill
  2. arvāk-vṛttayaḥbeyond the mental activities
  3. yasyawhose
  4. mahiglory
  5. tubut
  6. ātmabhū-ādayaḥBrahmā, etc.
  7. yathā-matiaccording to their different capacities
  8. gṛṇanti smaoffered prayers
  9. kṛta-anugrahamanifested by His grace
  10. vigrahamtranscendental form
3

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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “chanting”

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 am I using my tongue to begin or deepen my service to the Lord?

Practice

Set aside two minutes today to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBegin Service With the TongueThis 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 4.7.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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