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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 4: The Haṁsa-guhya Prayers Offered to the Lord by Prajāpati Dakṣa
6.4.526.4.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.4.53

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
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

त्वत्तोऽधस्तात्प्रजा: सर्वा मिथुनीभूय मायया ।

मदीयया भविष्यन्ति हरिष्यन्ति च मे बलिम् ॥ ५३ ॥

tvatto ’dhastāt prajāḥ sarvā

mithunī-bhūya māyayā

madīyayā bhaviṣyanti

hariṣyanti ca me balim

Translation

After you give birth to many hundreds and thousands of children, they will also be captivated by My illusory energy and will engage, like You, in sexual intercourse. But because of My mercy to you and them, they will also be able to give Me presentations in devotion.

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.

The Lord’s Mercy Makes Devotion Possible

  1. 1

    The Lord tells Dakṣa that his many children will also be captivated by His illusory energy.

  2. 2

    Like Dakṣa, these descendants will engage in sexual intercourse under the influence of that energy.

  3. 3

    Yet by the Lord’s mercy, Dakṣa and his descendants will also be able to offer Him presentations in devotion.

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:

Understanding that Dakṣa was very eager to follow the path of enjoyment, the Lord awarded him the potency to enjoy the illusory energy. The Lord offered him the daughter of Pañcajana named Asiknī, who was suitable for Mahārāja Dakṣa to enjoy in sex.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvattaḥyou
  2. adhastātafter
  3. prajāḥthe living entities
  4. sarvāḥall
  5. mithunī-bhūyahaving sex life
  6. māyayābecause of the influence or facilities given by the illusory energy
  7. madīyayāMy
  8. bhaviṣyantithey will become
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “children”

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 I respond to the Lord’s mercy with a devotional offering today?

Practice

Make one simple offering to the Lord today with devotion, remembering His mercy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Mercy Makes Devotion PossibleThis 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 6.4.53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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