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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
6.4.446.4.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.4.45

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 6.4.43inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ब्रह्मा भवो भवन्तश्च मनवो विबुधेश्वरा: ।

विभूतयो मम ह्येता भूतानां भूतिहेतव: ॥ ४५ ॥

brahmā bhavo bhavantaś ca

manavo vibudheśvarāḥ

vibhūtayo mama hy etā

bhūtānāṁ bhūti-hetavaḥ

Translation

Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, the Manus, all the other demigods in the higher planetary systems, and you prajāpatis, who are increasing the population, are working for the benefit of all living entities. Thus you expansions of My marginal energy are incarnations of My various qualities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service Matters More Than Material Position

  1. 1

    The Lord’s personal expansions are called svāṁśa and belong to viṣṇu-tattva. Living entities are separated expansions, called vibhinnāṁśa, and belong to jīva-tattva.

  2. 2

    Although Dakṣa is not on the same level as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, he is compared to them because he serves the Lord. Anyone engaged in the Lord’s service is spiritually very dear to Him, regardless of material position.

  3. 3

    A living entity especially empowered to act on the Lord’s behalf is called vibhūti. The Lord’s viṣṇu-tattva incarnations are called vibhava.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Prajāpati Dakṣa is not on the same level as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, he is compared to them because he engages in the service of the Lord.
  • From Lord Brahmā down, all the living entities engaged in the service of the Lord are extraordinary and are called vibhūti.
  • A living entity especially empowered to act on behalf of the Lord is called vibhūti, whereas the viṣṇu-tattva incarnations of the Lord, such as the Matsya avatāra (keśava dhṛta-mīna-śarīra jaya jagad-īśa hare), are called vibhava.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.4.45 quotesBG 10.41

As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (10.41): “Know that all beautiful, glorious and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 fulfill the desires of His devotees, He appears in various incarnations, and therefore there is no need to worship the demigods.” Being very satisfied by the prayers of Dakṣa, Lord Viṣṇu appeared before Dakṣa with eight arms.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brahmāLord Brahmā
  2. bhavaḥLord Śiva
  3. bhavantaḥall of you prajāpatis
  4. caand
  5. manavaḥthe Manus
  6. vibudha-īśvarāḥall the different demigods (such as the sun, the moon, Venus, Mars and Jupiter, who are all in charge of various activities for the welfare of the world)
  7. vibhūtayaḥexpansions of energy
  8. mamaMy
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “material”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “separated”

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

Do I value service to the Lord more than someone’s material status?

Practice

Offer a word of appreciation to someone serving the Lord, without considering their rank or recognition.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayService Matters More Than Material PositionThis 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 6.4.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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