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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
4.7.84.7.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.9

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.7.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सन्धीयमाने शिरसि दक्षो रुद्राभिवीक्षित: ।

सद्य: सुप्त इवोत्तस्थौ दद‍ृशे चाग्रतो मृडम् ॥ ९ ॥

sandhīyamāne śirasi

dakṣo rudrābhivīkṣitaḥ

sadyaḥ supta ivottasthau

dadṛśe cāgrato mṛḍam

Translation

When the animal’s head was fixed on the body of King Dakṣa, Dakṣa was immediately brought to consciousness, and as he awakened from sleep, the King saw Lord Śiva standing before him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Consciousness Continues Through Bodily Change

  1. 1

    By Lord Śiva’s grace, Dakṣa returned to consciousness when the goat’s head was joined to his body. He arose as if awakening from deep sleep and saw Lord Śiva before him.

  2. 2

    Dakṣa’s consciousness remained the same although his bodily condition changed. The purport explains that consciousness is individual and accompanies the soul’s transmigration.

  3. 3

    If a person’s consciousness is turned into Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the purport assures that he will be a great devotee of Kṛṣṇa in his next life, even in a different kind of body.

Key points from the purport
  • His body was lying dead, but by the grace of Lord Śiva, as soon as the head of a goat was joined to the body, Dakṣa came back to consciousness again.
  • Dakṣa actually took another body when he took on the head of a goat, but because consciousness is individual, his consciousness remained the same although his bodily condition changed.
  • After quitting his body as a king, Mahārāja Bharata was transferred to the body of a deer, but he retained the same consciousness.

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. sandhīyamānebeing executed
  2. śirasiby the head
  3. dakṣaḥKing Dakṣa
  4. rudra-abhivīkṣitaḥhaving been seen by Rudra (Lord Śiva)
  5. sadyaḥimmediately
  6. suptesleeping
  7. ivalike
  8. uttasthauawakened
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “grace”

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 much care do I give to developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute today remembering Kṛṣṇa and your wish to become His devotee.

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 todayConsciousness Continues Through Bodily ChangeThis 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 4.7.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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