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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 1 · Chapter 4: The Appearance of Śrī Nārada
1.4.121.4.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śaunaka Ṛṣisince 1.4.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत्सर्वं न: समाचक्ष्व पृष्टो यदिह किञ्चन ।

मन्ये त्वां विषये वाचां स्‍नातमन्यत्र छान्दसात् ॥ १३ ॥

tat sarvaṁ naḥ samācakṣva

pṛṣṭo yad iha kiñcana

manye tvāṁ viṣaye vācāṁ

snātam anyatra chāndasāt

Translation

We know that you are expert in the meaning of all subjects, except some portions of the Vedas, and thus you can clearly explain the answers to all the questions we have just put to you.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Realization Matters More Than Mechanical Recitation

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇas administer Vedic sacrifices, while learned traveling preachers spread transcendental knowledge to everyone. Their methods differ, but they are meant for the same end.

  2. 2

    The Vedas, Purāṇas and Itihāsas are emanations from the Supreme Being. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not less important than Vedic mantras; it is the ripened fruit of all the Vedas.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī follows Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who remains absorbed in the Bhāgavatam even though already self-realized. Realization is more important than parrotlike chanting.

Key points from the purport
  • The difference between the Vedas and the Purāṇas is like that between the brāhmaṇas and the parivrājakas.
  • As such, the parivrājakācāryas are not always expert in pronouncing the Vedic mantras, which are practiced systematically by accent and meter by the brāhmaṇas who are meant for administering Vedic rites.
  • Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī is following his footsteps, and therefore his position is not the least less important because he was not expert in chanting Vedic mantras with metric pronunciation, which depends more on practice than actual realization.

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

How it feels

Dissatisfaction → Inspired clarity. Even great accomplishment leaves Vyāsa without contentment until devotion is centered.

Chapters 4–6 of Canto 1: Vyāsa is dissatisfied; Nārada directs him to the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: The Appearance of Śrī Nārada

The sages inquire about Parīkṣit, while Sūta describes Vyāsadeva’s division of the Vedas and dissatisfaction.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatthat
  2. sarvamall
  3. naḥunto us
  4. samācakṣvaclearly explain
  5. pṛṣṭaḥquestioned
  6. yat ihaherein
  7. kiñcanaall that
  8. manyewe think
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “chanting”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I read or recite sacred words, how much attention do I give to understanding their meaning?

Practice

Reread one sentence from this purport slowly, then explain its meaning in your own words.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRealization Matters More Than Mechanical RecitationThis 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 1.4.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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