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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
4.7.434.7.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.44

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Vidyādharassince 4.7.44inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

विद्याधरा ऊचु:

त्वन्माययार्थमभिपद्य कलेवरेऽस्मिन्

कृत्वा ममाहमिति दुर्मतिरुत्पथै: स्वै: ।

क्षिप्तोऽप्यसद्विषयलालस आत्ममोहं

युष्मत्कथामृतनिषेवक उद्वय‍ुदस्येत् ॥ ४४ ॥

vidyādharā ūcuḥ

tvan-māyayārtham abhipadya kalevare ’smin

kṛtvā mamāham iti durmatir utpathaiḥ svaiḥ

kṣipto ’py asad-viṣaya-lālasa ātma-mohaṁ

yuṣmat-kathāmṛta-niṣevaka udvyudasyet

Translation

The Vidyādharas said: Dear Lord, this human form of body is meant for attaining the highest perfectional objective, but, impelled by Your external energy, the living entity misidentifies himself with his body and with the material energy, and therefore, influenced by māyā, he wants to become happy by material enjoyment. He is misled and always attracted by temporary, illusory happiness. But Your transcendental activities are so powerful that if one engages in hearing and chanting such topics, he can be delivered from illusion.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear About Kṛṣṇa and Leave Illusion

  1. 1

    Although temporary, the human body offers a chance to attain the highest perfection. Under māyā’s influence, we become attracted to temporary bodily happiness and forget life’s goal.

  2. 2

    The covering influence of māyā keeps the living entity satisfied in material conditions without understanding spiritual identity. Hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy name and activities provide the way out of this illusion.

  3. 3

    Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam offer the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s instructions and activities. One can remain in one’s present position while hearing from authoritative sources and sharing Kṛṣṇa’s teachings.

Key points from the purport
  • The human form of life is called arthada because the body can very nicely help the embodied soul to achieve the highest perfection.
  • But māyā is so strong that in spite of achieving this great boon of the human form of life, we are influenced by temporary material happiness, and we forget our goal of life.
  • The way to get out of illusory māyā is to engage in the topics of Kṛṣṇa.

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. vidyādharāḥthe Vidyādharas
  2. ūcuḥsaid
  3. tvat-māyayāby Your external potency
  4. arthamthe human body
  5. abhipadyaafter obtaining
  6. kalevarein the body
  7. asminin this
  8. kṛtvāhaving misidentified
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “māyā”, “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”, “holy name”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “understanding”

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 temporary attraction is taking time away from hearing about Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read one passage from Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam today, then share one teaching from it with someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.7's connections

Live this todayHear About Kṛṣṇa and Leave IllusionThis 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 4.7.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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