Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.12.35
चातुर्होत्रं कर्मतन्त्रमुपवेदनयै: सह ।
धर्मस्य पादाश्चत्वारस्तथैवाश्रमवृत्तय: ॥ ३५ ॥
cātur-hotraṁ karma-tantram
[chaatur-hotram karma-tantram]
upaveda-nayaiḥ saha
[upaveda-nayaih saha]
dharmasya pādāś catvāras
[dharmasya paadaash chatvaaras]
tathaivāśrama-vṛttayaḥ
[tathaivaashrama-vrittayah]
Word-for-word
cātuḥ
—
four
hotram
—
paraphernalia for sacrifice
karma
—
action
tantram
—
expansions of such activities
upaveda
—
supplementary to the Vedas
nayaiḥ
—
by logical conclusions
saha
—
along with
dharmasya
—
of religiosity
pādāḥ
—
principles
catvāraḥ
—
four
tathā eva
—
in the same way
āśrama
—
social orders
vṛttayaḥ
—
occupations.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
cātur-hotraṁ karma-tantram
cātuḥ
four
hotram
paraphernalia for sacrifice
karma
action
tantram
expansions of such activities
upaveda-nayaiḥ saha
upaveda
supplementary to the Vedas
nayaiḥ
by logical conclusions
saha
along with
dharmasya pādāś catvāras
dharmasya
of religiosity
pādāḥ
principles
catvāraḥ
four
tathaivāśrama-vṛttayaḥ
tathā eva
in the same way
āśrama
social orders
vṛttayaḥ
occupations.
The four kinds of paraphernalia for conducting the fire sacrifice became manifest: the performer [the chanter], the offerer, the fire, and the action performed in terms of the supplementary Vedas. Also the four principles of religiosity [truth, austerity, mercy and cleanliness] and the duties in the four social orders all became manifest.
Purport
Eating, sleeping, defending and mating are the four principles of material bodily demands which are common to both the animals and human society. To distinguish human society from the animals there is the performance of religious activities in terms of the social statuses and orders of life. They are all clearly mentioned in the Vedic literatures and were manifested by Brahmā when the four Vedas were generated from his four mouths. Thus the duties of humankind in terms of the statuses and social orders were established to be observed by the civilized man. Those who traditionally follow these principles are called Āryans, or progressive human beings.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The actions of the hotā, udgāṭā, adhvaryu and brahma priests, the various of sacrifices, the four parts of dharma (satya, śauca, tapa and dayā), the āśramas and occupations appeared from his mouth.
Catur-hotram refers to the actions of the hoṭā, udgātā, adhvaryu and brahma priests. Karma-tantram means profusion of sacrificial acts. The āśrāmas and occupations appeared along with the Upavedas and scriptures on logic.
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Personal Guidance
The verse describes a universe that is not a random stage but an arrangement with a purpose. Our work is not to engineer that purpose but to find our seat within it.
Reflection Questions
- What would change in your prayer if you remembered how small your sphere actually is?
- How could awe of the creation become a daily practice and not just a Sunday feeling?
My note
Source: vedabase.io