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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.4.15

Who is speaking and story frame

अलं दग्धैर्द्रुमैर्दीनै: खिलानां शिवमस्तु व: ।

वार्क्षी ह्येषा वरा कन्या पत्नीत्वे प्रतिगृह्यताम् ॥ १५ ॥

alaṁ dagdhair drumair dīnaiḥ

khilānāṁ śivam astu vaḥ

vārkṣī hy eṣā varā kanyā

patnītve pratigṛhyatām

Translation

There is no need to burn these poor trees any longer. Let whatever trees still remain be happy. Indeed, you should also be happy. Now, here is a beautiful, well-qualified girl named Māriṣā, who was raised by the trees as their daughter. You may accept this beautiful girl as your wife.

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.

End Destruction and Allow Happiness

  1. 1

    The appeal is to stop burning the poor trees. There is no need for further destruction.

  2. 2

    The remaining trees should be allowed to be happy. Those addressed are also encouraged to be happy.

  3. 3

    Māriṣā is described as a beautiful, well-qualified girl raised by the trees as their daughter. She is offered to those addressed as their wife.

How it feels

Anger and conflict → Spiritual commitment. Competing understandings of duty create relational tension.

Chapters 4–6 of Canto 6: Dakṣa, Nārada and the consequences of preaching. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: The Haṁsa-guhya Prayers Offered to the Lord by Prajāpati Dakṣa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Just to satisfy the Pracetās, Soma gave them a beautiful girl born of Pramlocā Apsarā. By the semen of all the Pracetās, Dakṣa was born of that girl.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. alamenough
  2. dagdhaiḥwith burning
  3. drumaiḥthe trees
  4. dīnaiḥpoor
  5. khilānāmof the remainder of the trees
  6. śivamall good fortune
  7. astulet there be
  8. vaḥof you
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

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

Where can I stop causing harm and make room for others’ happiness?

Practice

Leave a tree unharmed today, taking care not to damage its branches or bark.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEnd Destruction and Allow HappinessThis 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 6.4.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.