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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
4.7.254.7.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.26

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Dakṣasince 4.7.26inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

दक्ष उवाच

शुद्धं स्वधाम्न्युपरताखिलबुद्ध्यवस्थं

चिन्मात्रमेकमभयं प्रतिषिध्य मायाम् ।

तिष्ठंस्तयैव पुरुषत्वमुपेत्य तस्या-

मास्ते भवानपरिशुद्ध इवात्मतन्त्र: ॥ २६ ॥

dakṣa uvāca

śuddhaṁ sva-dhāmny uparatākhila-buddhy-avasthaṁ

cin-mātram ekam abhayaṁ pratiṣidhya māyām

tiṣṭhaṁs tayaiva puruṣatvam upetya tasyām

āste bhavān apariśuddha ivātma-tantraḥ

Translation

Dakṣa addressed the Supreme Personality of Godhead: My dear Lord, You are transcendental to all speculative positions. You are completely spiritual, devoid of all fear, and You are always in control of the material energy. Even though You appear in the material energy, You are situated transcendentally. You are always free from material contamination because You are completely self-sufficient.

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.

The Lord Remains Beyond Material Contamination

  1. 1

    Dakṣa addresses the Supreme Personality of Godhead as beyond all speculative positions. The Lord is completely spiritual and free from fear.

  2. 2

    The Lord always controls the material energy. Even when He appears within it, He remains transcendental.

  3. 3

    The Lord is completely self-sufficient. He is therefore always free from material contamination.

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. dakṣaḥDakṣa
  2. uvācasaid
  3. śuddhampure
  4. sva-dhāmniin Your own abode
  5. uparata-akhilacompletely turned back
  6. buddhi-avasthamposition of mental speculation
  7. cit-mātramcompletely spiritual
  8. ekamone without a second
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “contamination”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “free from”

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 does this description distinguish the Lord from someone controlled by material energy?

Practice

Read the translation slowly, then recall these three qualities: spiritual, self-sufficient and free from material contamination.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Remains Beyond Material ContaminationThis 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 4.7.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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