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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
4.7.274.7.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.28

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The members of the assemblysince 4.7.28inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सदस्या ऊचु:

उत्पत्त्यध्वन्यशरण उरुक्लेशदुर्गेऽन्तकोग्र

व्यालान्विष्टे विषयमृगतृष्यात्मगेहोरुभार: ।

द्वन्द्वश्वभ्रे खलमृगभये शोकदावेऽज्ञसार्थ:

पादौकस्ते शरणद कदा याति कामोपसृष्ट: ॥ २८ ॥

sadasyā ūcuḥ

utpatty-adhvany aśaraṇa uru-kleśa-durge ’ntakogra-

vyālānviṣṭe viṣaya-mṛga-tṛṣy ātma-gehoru-bhāraḥ

dvandva-śvabhre khala-mṛga-bhaye śoka-dāve ’jña-sārthaḥ

pādaukas te śaraṇada kadā yāti kāmopasṛṣṭaḥ

Translation

The members of the assembly addressed the Lord: O exclusive shelter for all who are situated in troubled life, in this formidable fort of conditional existence the time element, like a snake, is always looking for an opportunity to strike. This world is full of ditches of so-called distress and happiness, and there are many ferocious animals always ready to attack. The fire of lamentation is always blazing, and the mirage of false happiness is always alluring, but one has no shelter from them. Thus foolish persons live in the cycle of birth and death, always overburdened in discharging their so-called duties, and we do not know when they will accept the shelter of Your lotus feet.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Shelter From Troubled Material Life

  1. 1

    Conditional existence is full of danger, lamentation and the mirage of false happiness. The assembly points to the Lord’s lotus feet as the shelter for those in distress.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that this precarious condition is due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant to relieve bewildered and distressed people. Its workers follow Lord Caitanya, the greatest friend to all living entities.

Key points from the purport
  • Persons who are not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness are living a very precarious life, as described in this verse, but all these circumstantial conditions are due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa.
  • The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant to give relief to all these bewildered and distressed persons; therefore it is the greatest relief work for all human society, and the workers thereof are the greatest well-wishers, for they follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, who is the greatest friend to all living entities.

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. sadasyāḥthe members of the assembly
  2. ūcuḥsaid
  3. utpattirepeated birth and death
  4. adhvanion the path of
  5. aśaraṇenot having a place to take shelter
  6. urugreat
  7. kleśatroublesome
  8. durgein the formidable fort
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “death”, “danger”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

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

When I feel burdened, do I remember the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet?

Practice

Take one quiet minute amid today’s worries to remember Kṛṣṇa and ask for shelter at His lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Shelter From Troubled Material LifeThis 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 4.7.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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