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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
1.4.241.4.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.25

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.4.14inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

स्त्रीशूद्रद्विजबन्धूनां त्रयी न श्रुतिगोचरा ।

कर्मश्रेयसि मूढानां श्रेय एवं भवेदिह ।

इति भारतमाख्यानं कृपया मुनिना कृतम् ॥ २५ ॥

strī-śūdra-dvijabandhūnāṁ

trayī na śruti-gocarā

karma-śreyasi mūḍhānāṁ

śreya evaṁ bhaved iha

iti bhāratam ākhyānaṁ

kṛpayā muninā kṛtam

Translation

Out of compassion, the great sage thought it wise that this would enable men to achieve the ultimate goal of life. Thus he compiled the great historical narration called the Mahābhārata for women, laborers and friends of the twice-born.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Compassion Makes Spiritual Knowledge Accessible

  1. 1

    Out of compassion, Vyāsadeva compiled the Mahābhārata for those lacking the qualifications to understand the Vedas directly. Birth in a spiritually cultured family alone does not establish spiritual qualification.

  2. 2

    The Bhagavad-gītā, spoken by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa within the Mahābhārata, is the essence of all Vedic knowledge. Vyāsadeva and Lord Kṛṣṇa collaborated for the good of the fallen souls of this age.

  3. 3

    Spiritual learning reaches its goal in transcendental loving service of the Lord. The purport describes this devotional service as a great science taught by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and those empowered by Him.

Key points from the purport
  • One who has not undergone such garbhādhāna-saṁskāra, or spiritual family planning, is not accepted as being of an actual twice-born family.
  • If the father and the mother do not undertake the process of spiritual family planning and simply beget children out of passion only, their children are called dvija-bandhus.
  • The less intelligent are more interested in stories than in philosophy, and therefore the philosophy of the Vedas in the form of the Bhagavad-gītā, is spoken by the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

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

Quoted in the purport ofSB 3.5.12

As stated in Bhāgavatam (1.4.25), Śrīla Vyāsadeva compiled the Mahābhārata for the less intelligent class of men, who take more interest in mundane topics than in the philosophy of life.

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

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. strīthe woman class
  2. śūdrathe laboring class
  3. dvija-bandhūnāmof the friends of the twice-born
  4. trayīthe three sacrificial Vedas
  5. na śruti-gocarānot allowed to be heard
  6. karma-śreyasiin the successful execution of ritual duties
  7. mūḍhānāmof the less intelligent
  8. śreyaḥsupreme benefit
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: “narration”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “compassion”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I receive accessible spiritual teachings as a kindness meant to lead me toward devotional service?

Practice

Read a short passage from the Bhagavad-gītā today with the intention of learning how to serve the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 26 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 26 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayCompassion Makes Spiritual Knowledge AccessibleThis 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 1.4.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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