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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 6.4.5

Who is speaking and story frame

द्रुमेभ्य: क्रुध्यमानास्ते तपोदीपितमन्यव: ।

मुखतो वायुमग्निं च ससृजुस्तद्दिधक्षया ॥ ५ ॥

drumebhyaḥ krudhyamānās te

tapo-dīpita-manyavaḥ

mukhato vāyum agniṁ ca

sasṛjus tad-didhakṣayā

Translation

Because of having undergone long austerities in the water, the Pracetās were very angry at the trees. Desiring to burn them to ashes, they generated wind and fire from their mouths.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Austerity Should Develop Forgiveness

  1. 1

    Severe austerity can give great mystic power, as shown by the Pracetās producing fire and wind from their mouths. Power alone, however, does not establish good qualities.

  2. 2

    The real feature of devotees who undergo austerity is forgiveness. A Vaiṣṇava does not become angry when put into difficulty.

  3. 3

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches humility, tolerance and respect for others. With this spirit, one can constantly chant the Lord’s holy name and preach His glories.

Key points from the purport
  • Here the word tapo-dīpita-manyavaḥ indicates that persons who have undergone severe austerity (tapasya) are endowed with great mystic power, as evinced by the Pracetās, who created fire and wind from their mouths.
  • Although devotees undergo severe tapasya, however, they are vimanyavaḥ, sādhavaḥ, which means that they are never angry.
  • Although a Vaiṣṇava has sufficient power in tapasya, he does not become angry when put into difficulty.

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 6.4.5 quotesSB 3.25.21

Bhāgavatam (3.25.21) states: A sādhu, a devotee, is never angry.

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:

Thus the Pracetās created wind and fire to burn the trees to ashes. Soma, however, the king of the moon and the king of all vegetation, forbade the Pracetās to destroy the trees, since the trees are the source of fruit and flowers for all living beings.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. drumebhyaḥunto the trees
  2. krudhyamānāḥbeing very angry
  3. tethey (the ten sons of Prācīnabarhi)
  4. tapaḥ-dīpita-manyavaḥwhose anger was inflamed because of long austerities
  5. mukhataḥfrom the mouth
  6. vāyumwind
  7. agnimfire
  8. caand
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “chant”, “holy name”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “humility”

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

When challenged, do you seek to show your strength or practise forgiveness?

Practice

When irritation arises today, pause and chant the Lord’s holy name before answering respectfully.

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.

Live this todayDevotional Austerity Should Develop ForgivenessThis 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 6.4.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.