Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter One

SB4.1.40

TEXT 40

urjayam jajnire putra

vasisthasya parantapa

citraketu-pradhanas te

sapta brahmarsayo ’malah

SYNONYMS

urjayam—in Urja; jajnire—took birth; putrah—sons; vasisthasya—of the great sage Vasistha; parantapa—O great one; citraketu—Citraketu; pradhanah—headed by; te—all the sons; sapta—seven; brahma-rsayah—great sages with spiritual knowledge; amalah—without contamination.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Vasistha begot in his wife, Urja, sometimes called Arundhati, seven spotlessly great sages, headed by the sage named Citraketu.

SB4.1.41

TEXT 41

citraketuh surocis ca

viraja mitra eva ca

ulbano vasubhrdyano

dyuman sakty-adayo ’pare

SYNONYMS

citraketuh—Citraketu; surocih ca—and Suroci; virajah—Viraja; mitrah—Mitra; eva—also; ca—and; ulbanah—Ulbana; vasubhrdyanah—Vasubhrdyana; dyuman—Dyuman; sakti-adayah—sons headed by Sakti; apare—from his other wife.

TRANSLATION

The names of these seven sages are as follows: Citraketu, Suroci, Viraja, Mitra, Ulbana, Vasubhrdyana and Dyuman. Some other very competent sons were born from Vasistha’s other wife.

PURPORT

Urja, who is sometimes known as Arundhati and was the wife of Vasistha, was the ninth daughter of Kardama Muni.

SB4.1.42

TEXT 42

cittis tv atharvanah patni

lebhe putram dhrta-vratam

dadhyancam asvasirasam

bhrgor vamsam nibodha me

SYNONYMS

cittih—Citti; tu—also; atharvanah—of Atharva; patni—wife; lebhe—got; putram—son; dhrta-vratam—completely dedicated to a vow; dadhyancam—Dadhyanca; asvasirasam—Asvasira; bhrgoh vamsam—generations of Bhrgu; nibodha—try to understand; me—from me.

TRANSLATION

Citti, wife of the sage Atharva, gave birth to a son named Asvasira by accepting a great vow called Dadhyanca. Now you may hear from me about the descendants of the sage Bhrgu.

PURPORT

The wife of Atharva known as Citti is also known as Santi. She was the eighth daughter of Kardama Muni.

SB4.1.43

TEXT 43

bhrguh khyatyam maha-bhagah

patnyam putran ajijanat

dhataram ca vidhataram

sriyam ca bhagavat-param

SYNONYMS

bhrguh—the great sage Bhrgu; khyatyam—in his wife, Khyati; maha-bhagah—greatly fortunate; patnyam—unto the wife; putran—sons; ajijanat—gave birth; dhataram—Dhata; ca—also; vidhataram—Vidhata; sriyam—a daughter named Sri; ca bhagavat-param—and a great devotee of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

The sage Bhrgu was highly fortunate. In his wife, known as Khyati, he begot two sons, named Dhata and Vidhata, and one daughter, named Sri, who was very much devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

SB4.1.44

TEXT 44

ayatim niyatim caiva

sute merus tayor adat

tabhyam tayor abhavatam

mrkandah prana eva ca

SYNONYMS

ayatim—Ayati; niyatim—Niyati; ca eva—also; sute—daughters; meruh—the sage Meru; tayoh—unto those two; adat—gave in marriage; tabhyam—out of them; tayoh—both of them; abhavatam—appeared; mrkandah—Mrkanda; pranah—Prana; eva—certainly; ca—and.

TRANSLATION

The sage Meru had two daughters, named Ayati and Niyati, whom he gave in charity to Dhata and Vidhata. Ayati and Niyati gave birth to two sons, Mrkanda and Prana.

SB4.1.45

TEXT 45

markandeyo mrkandasya

pranad vedasira munih

kavis ca bhargavo yasya

bhagavan usana sutah

SYNONYMS

markandeyah—Markandeya; mrkandasya—of Mrkanda; pranat—from Prana; vedasirah—Vedasira; munih—great sage; kavih ca—of the name Kavi; bhargavah—of the name Bhargava; yasya—whose; bhagavan—greatly powerful; usana—Sukracarya; sutah—son.

TRANSLATION

From Mrkanda, Markandeya Muni was born, and from Prana the sage Vedasira, whose son was Usana [Sukracarya], also known as Kavi. Thus Kavi also belonged to the descendants of the Bhrgu dynasty.

SB4.1.46-47

TEXTS 46–47

ta ete munayah ksattar

lokan sargair abhavayan

esa kardama-dauhitra-

santanah kathitas tava

srnvatah sraddadhanasya

sadyah papa-harah parah

prasutim manavim daksa

upayeme hy ajatmajah

SYNONYMS

te—they; ete—all; munayah—great sages; ksattah—O Vidura; lokan—the three worlds; sargaih—with their descendants; abhavayan—filled; esah—this; kardama—of the sage Kardama; dauhitra—grandsons; santanah—offspring; kathitah—already spoken; tava—unto you; srnvatah—hearing; sraddadhanasya—of the faithful; sadyah—immediately; papa-harah—reducing all sinful activities; parah—great; prasutim—Prasuti; manavim—daughter of Manu; daksah—King Daksa; upayeme—married; hi—certainly; aja-atmajah—son of Brahma.

TRANSLATION

My dear Vidura, the population of the universe was thus increased by the descendants of these sages and the daughters of Kardama. Anyone who hears the descriptions of this dynasty with faith will be relieved from all sinful reactions. Another of Manu’s daughters, known as Prasuti, married the son of Brahma named Daksa.

SB4.1.48

TEXT 48

tasyam sasarja duhitrh

sodasamala-locanah

trayodasadad dharmaya

tathaikam agnaye vibhuh

SYNONYMS

tasyam—unto her; sasarja—created; duhitrh—daughters; sodasa—sixteen; amala-locanah—with lotuslike eyes; trayodasa—thirteen; adat—gave; dharmaya—to Dharma; tatha—so; ekam—one daughter; agnaye—to Agni; vibhuh—Daksa.

TRANSLATION

Daksa begot sixteen very beautiful daughters with lotuslike eyes in his wife Prasuti. Of these sixteen daughters, thirteen were given in marriage to Dharma, and one daughter was given to Agni.

SB4.1.49-52

TEXTS 49–52

pitrbhya ekam yuktebhyo

bhavayaikam bhava-cchide

sraddha maitri daya santis

tustih pustih kriyonnatih

buddhir medha titiksa hrir

murtir dharmasya patnayah

sraddhasuta subham maitri

prasadam abhayam daya

santih sukham mudam tustih

smayam pustir asuyata

yogam kriyonnatir darpam

artham buddhir asuyata

medha smrtim titiksa tu

ksemam hrih prasrayam sutam

murtih sarva-gunotpattir

nara-narayanav rsi

SYNONYMS

pitrbhyah—to the Pitas; ekam—one daughter; yuktebhyah—the assembled; bhavaya—to Lord Siva; ekam—one daughter; bhava-chide—who delivers from the material entanglement; sraddha, maitri, daya, santih, tustih, pustih, kriya, unnatih, buddhih, medha, titiksa, hrih, murtih—names of thirteen daughters of Daksa; dharmasya—of Dharma; patnayah—the wives; sraddha—Sraddha; asuta—gave birth to; subham—Subha; maitri—Maitri; prasadam—Prasada; abhayam—Abhaya; daya—Daya; santih—Santi; sukham—Sukha; mudam—Muda; tustih—Tusti; smayam—Smaya; pustih—Pusti; asuyata—gave birth to; yogam—Yoga; kriya—Kriya; unnatih—Unnati; darpam—Darpa; artham—Artha; buddhih—Buddhi; asuyata—begot; medha—Medha; smrtim—Smrti; titiksa—Titiksa; tu—also; ksemam—Ksema; hrih—Hri; prasrayam—Prasraya; sutam—son; murtih—Murti; sarva-guna—of all respectable qualities; utpattih—the reservoir; nara-narayanau—both Nara and Narayana; rsi—the two sages.

TRANSLATION

One of the remaining two daughters was given in charity to the Pitrloka, where she resides very amicably, and the other was given to Lord Siva, who is the deliverer of sinful persons from material entanglement. The names of the thirteen daughters of Daksa who were given to Dharma are Sraddha, Maitri, Daya, Santi, Tusti, Pusti, Kriya, Unnati, Buddhi, Medha, Titiksa, Hri and Murti. These thirteen daughters produced the following sons: Sraddha gave birth to Subha, Maitri produced Prasada, Daya gave birth to Abhaya, Santi gave birth to Sukha, Tusti gave birth to Muda, Pusti gave birth to Smaya, Kriya gave birth to Yoga, Unnati gave birth to Darpa, Buddhi gave birth to Artha, Medha gave birth to Smrti, Titiksa gave birth to Ksema, and Hri gave birth to Prasraya. Murti, a reservoir of all respectable qualities, gave birth to Sri Nara-Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

SB4.1.53

TEXT 53

yayor janmany ado visvam

abhyanandat sunirvrtam

manamsi kakubho vatah

praseduh sarito ’drayah

SYNONYMS

yayoh—both of whom (Nara and Narayana); janmani—on the appearance; adah—that; visvam—universe; abhyanandat—became glad; su-nirvrtam—full of joy; manamsi—everyone’s mind; kakubhah—the directions; vatah—the air; praseduh—became pleasant; saritah—the rivers; adrayah—the mountains.

TRANSLATION

On the occasion of the appearance of Nara-Narayana, the entire world was full of joy. Everyone’s mind became tranquil, and thus in all directions the air, the rivers and the mountains became pleasant.

SB4.1.54-55

TEXTS 54–55

divy avadyanta turyani

petuh kusuma-vrstayah

munayas tustuvus tusta

jagur gandharva-kinnarah

nrtyanti sma striyo devya

asit parama-mangalam

deva brahmadayah sarve

upatasthur abhistavaih

SYNONYMS

divi—in the heavenly planets; avadyanta—vibrated; turyani—a band of instruments; petuh—they showered; kusuma—of flowers; vrstayah—showers; munayah—the sages; tustuvuh—chanted Vedic prayers; tustah—pacified; jaguh—began to sing; gandharva—the Gandharvas; kinnarah—the Kinnaras; nrtyanti sma—danced; striyah—the beautiful damsels; devyah—of the heavenly planets; asit—were visible; parama-mangalam—the highest good fortune; devah—the demigods; brahma-adayah—Brahma and others; sarve—all; upatasthuh—worshiped; abhistavaih—with respectful prayers.

TRANSLATION

In the heavenly planets, bands began to play, and they showered flowers from the sky. The pacified sages chanted Vedic prayers, the denizens of heaven known as the Gandharvas and Kinnaras sang, the beautiful damsels of the heavenly planets danced, and in this way, at the time of the appearance of Nara-Narayana, all signs of good fortune were visible. Just at that time, great demigods like Brahma also offered their respectful prayers.

SB4.1.56

TEXT 56

deva ucuh

yo mayaya viracitam nijayatmanidam

khe rupa-bhedam iva tat-praticaksanaya

etena dharma-sadane rsi-murtinadya

praduscakara purusaya namah parasmai

SYNONYMS

devah—the demigods; ucuh—said; yah—who; mayaya—by the external energy; viracitam—was created; nijaya—by His own; atmani—being situated in Him; idam—this; khe—in the sky; rupa-bhedam—bunches of clouds; iva—as if; tat—of Himself; praticaksanaya—for manifesting; etena—with this; dharma-sadane—in the house of Dharma; rsi-murtina—with the form of a sage; adya—today; praduscakara—appeared; purusaya—unto the Personality of Godhead; namah—respectful obeisances; parasmai—the Supreme.

TRANSLATION

The demigods said: Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the transcendental Personality of Godhead, who created as His external energy this cosmic manifestation, which is situated in Him as the air and clouds are situated in space, and who has now appeared in the form of Nara-Narayana Rsi in the house of Dharma.

PURPORT

The universal form of the Lord is the cosmic manifestation, which is an exhibition of the external energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In space there are innumerable varieties of planets and also the air, and in the air there are variously colored clouds, and sometimes we see airplanes running from one place to another. Thus the entire cosmic manifestation is full of variety, but actually that variety is a manifestation of the external energy of the Supreme Lord, and that energy is situated in Him. Now the Lord Himself, after manifesting His energy, appeared within the creation of His energy, which is simultaneously one with and different from Himself, and therefore the demigods offered their respects to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who manifests Himself in such varieties. There are some philosophers, called nondualists, who because of their impersonal conception think that varieties are false. ln this verse it is specifically stated, yo mayaya viracitam. This indicates that the varieties are a manifestation of the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus because the energy is nondifferent from the Godhead, the varieties are also factual. The material varieties may be temporary, but they are not false. They are a reflection of the spiritual varieties. Here the word praticaksanaya, “there are varieties,” announces the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared as Nara-Narayana Rsi and who is the origin of all varieties of material nature.

SB4.1.57

TEXT 57

so ’yam sthiti-vyatikaropasamaya srstan

sattvena nah sura-ganan anumeya-tattvah

drsyad adabhra-karunena vilokanena

yac chri-niketam amalam ksipataravindam

SYNONYMS

sah—that; ayam—He; sthiti—of the created world; vyatikara—calamities; upasamaya—for destroying; srstan—created; sattvena—by the mode of goodness; nah—us; sura-ganan—the demigods; anumeya-tattvah—understood by the Vedas; drsyat—glance over; adabhra-karunena—merciful; vilokanena—glance; yat—which; sri-niketam—the home of the goddess of fortune; amalam—spotless; ksipata—supersedes; aravindam—lotus.

TRANSLATION

Let that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is understood by truly authorized Vedic literature and who has created peace and prosperity to destroy all calamities of the created world, be kind enough to bestow His glance upon the demigods. His merciful glance can supersede the beauty of the spotless lotus flower which is the home of the goddess of fortune.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the origin of the cosmic manifestation, is covered by the wonderful activities of material nature, just as outer space or the illumination of the sun and moon is sometimes covered by clouds or dust. It is very difficult to find the origin of the cosmic manifestation; therefore material scientists conclude that nature is the ultimate cause of all manifestations. But from sastra, or authentic literature like Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic scriptures, we understand that behind this wonderful cosmic manifestation is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in order to maintain the regular procedures of the cosmic manifestation and to be visible to the eyes of persons who are in the mode of goodness, the Lord appears. He is the cause of the creation and dissolution of the cosmic manifestation. The demigods therefore prayed for His merciful glance upon them in order to be blessed.

SB4.1.58

TEXT 58

evam sura-ganais tata

bhagavantav abhistutau

labdhavalokair yayatur

arcitau gandhamadanam

SYNONYMS

evam—thus; sura-ganaih—by the demigods; tata—O Vidura; bhagavantau—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; abhistutau—having been praised; labdha—having obtained; avalokaih—the glance (of mercy); yayatuh—departed; arcitau—having been worshiped; gandha-madanam—to the Gandhamadana Hill.

TRANSLATION

[Maitreya said:] O Vidura, thus the demigods worshiped with prayers the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing as the sage Nara-Narayana. The Lord glanced upon them with mercy and then departed for Gandhamadana Hill.

SB4.1.59

TEXT 59

tav imau vai bhagavato

harer amsav ihagatau

bhara-vyayaya ca bhuvah

krsnau yadu-kurudvahau

SYNONYMS

tau—both; imau—these; vai—certainly; bhagavatah—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hareh—of Hari; amsau—part and parcel expansion; iha—here (in this universe); agatau—has appeared; bhara-vyayaya—for mitigation of the burden; ca—and; bhuvah—of the world; krsnau—the two Krsnas (Krsna and Arjuna); yadu-kuru-udvahau—who are the best of the Yadu and Kuru dynasties respectively.

TRANSLATION

That Nara-Narayana Rsi, who is a partial expansion of Krsna, has now appeared in the dynasties of Yadu and Kuru, in the forms of Krsna and Arjuna respectively, to mitigate the burden of the world.

PURPORT

Narayana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Nara is a part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana. Thus the energy and the energetic together are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Maitreya informed Vidura that Nara, the portion of Narayana, had appeared in the family of the Kurus and that Narayana, the plenary expansion of Krsna, had come as Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with the purpose of delivering suffering humanity from the pangs of material burdens. In other words, Narayana Rsi was now present in the world in the forms of Krsna and Arjuna.

SB4.1.60

TEXT 60

svahabhimaninas cagner

atmajams trin ajijanat

pavakam pavamanam ca

sucim ca huta-bhojanam

SYNONYMS

svaha—Svaha, the wife of Agni; abhimaninah—the presiding deity of fire; ca—and; agneh—from Agni; atmajan—sons; trin—three; ajijanat—produced; pavakam—Pavaka; pavamanam ca—and Pavamana; sucim ca—and Suci; huta-bhojanam—eating the oblations of sacrifice.

TRANSLATION

The predominating deity of fire begot in his wife, Svaha, three children, named Pavaka, Pavamana and Suci, who exist by eating the oblations offered to the fire of sacrifice.

PURPORT

After describing the descendants of the thirteen wives of Dharma, who were all daughters of Daksa, Maitreya now describes the fourteenth daughter of Daksa, Svaha, and her three sons. Oblations offered in the sacrificial fire are meant for the demigods, and on behalf of the demigods the three sons of Agni and Svaha, namely Pavaka, Pavamana and Suci, accept the oblations.

SB4.1.61

TEXT 61

tebhyo ’gnayah samabhavan

catvarimsac ca panca ca

ta evaikonapancasat

sakam pitr-pitamahaih

SYNONYMS

tebhyah—from them; agnayah—fire-gods; samabhavan—were produced; catvarimsat—forty; ca—and; panca—five; ca—and; te—they; eva—certainly; ekona-pancasat—forty-nine; sakam—along with; pitr-pitamahaih—with the fathers and grandfather.

TRANSLATION

From those three sons another forty-five descendants were generated, who are also fire-gods. The total number of fire-gods is therefore forty-nine, including the fathers and the grandfather.

PURPORT

The grandfather is Agni, and the sons are Pavaka, Pavamana and Suci. Counting these four, plus forty-five grandsons, there are altogether forty-nine different fire-gods.

SB4.1.62

TEXT 62

vaitanike karmani yan-

namabhir brahma-vadibhih

agneyya istayo yajne

nirupyante ’gnayas tu te

SYNONYMS

vaitanike—offering of oblations; karmani—the activity; yat—of the fire-gods; namabhih—by the names; brahma-vadibhih—by impersonalist brahmanas; agneyyah—for Agni; istayah—sacrifices; yajne—in the sacrifice; nirupyante—are the objective; agnayah—the forty-nine fire-gods; tu—but; te—those.

TRANSLATION

These forty-nine fire-gods are the beneficiaries of the oblations offered in the Vedic sacrificial fire by impersonalist brahmanas.

PURPORT

Impersonalists who perform Vedic fruitive sacrifices are attracted to the various fire-gods and offer oblations in their name. The forty-nine fire-gods are described herewith.

SB4.1.63

TEXT 63

agnisvatta barhisadah

saumyah pitara ajyapah

sagnayo ’nagnayas tesam

patni daksayani svadha

SYNONYMS

agnisvattah—the Agnisvattas; barhisadah—the Barhisadas; saumyah—the Saumyas; pitarah—the forefathers; ajyapah—the Ajyapas; sa-agnayah—those whose means is by fire; anagnayah—those whose means is without fire; tesam—of them; patni—the wife; daksayani—the daughter of Daksa; svadha—Svadha.

TRANSLATION

The Agnisvattas, the Barhisadas, the Saumyas and the Ajyapas are the Pitas. They are either sagnika or niragnika. The wife of all these Pitas is Svadha, who is the daughter of King Daksa.

SB4.1.64

TEXT 64

tebhyo dadhara kanye dve

vayunam dharinim svadha

ubhe te brahma-vadinyau

jnana-vijnana-parage

SYNONYMS

tebhyah—from them; dadhara—produced; kanye—daughters; dve—two; vayunam—Vayuna; dharinim—Dharini; svadha—Svadha; ubhe—both of them; te—they; brahma-vadinyau—impersonalists; jnana-vijnana-para-ge—expert in both transcendental and Vedic knowledge.

TRANSLATION

Svadha, who was offered to the Pitas, begot two daughters named Vayuna and Dharini, both of whom were impersonalists and were expert in transcendental and Vedic knowledge.

SB4.1.65

TEXT 65

bhavasya patni tu sati

bhavam devam anuvrata

atmanah sadrsam putram

na lebhe guna-silatah

SYNONYMS

bhavasya—of Bhava (Lord Siva); patni—the wife; tu—but; sati—named Sati; bhavam—to Bhava; devam—a demigod; anuvrata—faithfully engaged in service; atmanah—of herself; sadrsam—similar; putram—a son; na lebhe—did not obtain; guna-silatah—by good qualities and by character.

TRANSLATION

The sixteenth daughter, whose name was Sati, was the wife of Lord Siva. She could not produce a child, although she always faithfully engaged in the service of her husband.

SB4.1.66

TEXT 66

pitary apratirupe sve

bhavayanagase rusa

apraudhaivatmanatmanam

ajahad yoga-samyuta

SYNONYMS

pitari—as a father; apratirupe—unfavorable; sve—her own; bhavaya—unto Lord Siva; anagase—faultless; rusa—with anger; apraudha—before attaining maturity; eva—even; atmana—by herself; atmanam—the body; ajahat—gave up; yoga-samyuta—by mystic yoga.

TRANSLATION

The reason is that Sati’s father, Daksa, used to rebuke Lord Siva in spite of Siva’s faultlessness. Consequently, before attaining a mature age, Sati gave up her body by dint of yogic mystic power.

PURPORT

Lord Siva, being the head of all mystic yogis, never even constructed a home for his residence. Sati was the daughter of a great king, Daksa, and because his youngest daughter, Sati, selected as her husband Lord Siva, King Daksa was not very much satisfied with her. Therefore whenever she met her father, he unnecessarily criticized her husband, although Lord Siva was faultless. Because of this, before attaining a mature age Sati gave up the body given by her father, Daksa, and therefore she could not produce a child.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, First Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “Genealogical Table of the Daughters of Manu.”

Next chapter (SB 4.2)