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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 ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 4: The Haṁsa-guhya Prayers Offered to the Lord by Prajāpati Dakṣa
6.4.35-396.4.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.4.40

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.4.35-39inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

रूपं तन्महदाश्चर्यं विचक्ष्यागतसाध्वस: ।

ननाम दण्डवद्भ‍ूमौ प्रहृष्टात्मा प्रजापति: ॥ ४० ॥

rūpaṁ tan mahad-āścaryaṁ

vicakṣyāgata-sādhvasaḥ

nanāma daṇḍavad bhūmau

prahṛṣṭātmā prajāpatiḥ

Translation

Seeing that wonderful and effulgent form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Prajāpati Dakṣa was first somewhat afraid, but then he was very pleased to see the Lord, and he fell to the ground like a stick to offer his respects to the Lord.

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.

Offer Respects With a Joyful Heart

  1. 1

    Dakṣa saw the wonderful and effulgent form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    At first Dakṣa was somewhat afraid, but then he became very pleased to see the Lord.

  3. 3

    Dakṣa fell to the ground like a stick to offer his respects. His pleasure in seeing the Lord was expressed through this humble gesture.

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:

To bestow mercy upon them, He discloses His form, name, attributes and qualities to be worshiped within this material world. “Unfortunately, however, those who are materially absorbed worship various demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rūpamtranscendental form
  2. tatthat
  3. mahat-āścaryamgreatly wonderful
  4. vicakṣyaseeing
  5. āgata-sādhvasaḥin the beginning becoming afraid
  6. nanāmaoffered obeisances
  7. daṇḍa-vatlike a stick
  8. bhūmauon the ground
  9. prahṛṣṭa-ātmābeing pleased in his body, mind and soul
  10. prajāpatiḥthe prajāpati known as Dakṣa
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “humble”

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 can you express heartfelt respect for the Lord today?

Practice

Offer a respectful bow to the Lord, remembering Dakṣa’s joyful response.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Respects With a Joyful HeartThis 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.

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