1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

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
1.4.301.4.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.31

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

किं वा भागवता धर्मा न प्रायेण निरूपिता: ।

प्रिया: परमहंसानां त एव ह्यच्युतप्रिया: ॥ ३१ ॥

kiṁ vā bhāgavatā dharmā

na prāyeṇa nirūpitāḥ

priyāḥ paramahaṁsānāṁ

ta eva hy acyuta-priyāḥ

Translation

This may be because I did not specifically point out the devotional service of the Lord, which is dear both to perfect beings and to the infallible Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Brings Full Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Śrīla Vyāsadeva considered that his dissatisfaction might arise from not specifically explaining devotional service of the Lord.

  2. 2

    Devotional service is dear both to perfect beings and to the infallible Lord. It is the normal condition of the living being.

  3. 3

    Unless the living being is fixed in service, neither the Lord nor the living being can be fully satisfied. Vyāsadeva felt this deficiency as his spiritual master, Nārada Muni, arrived.

Key points from the purport
  • The dissatisfaction which was being felt by Śrīla Vyāsadeva is expressed herein in his own words.
  • This was felt for the normal condition of the living being in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • This defect was felt by him when Nārada Muni, his spiritual master, reached him.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kim vāor
  2. bhāgavatāḥ dharmāḥdevotional activities of the living beings
  3. nanot
  4. prāyeṇaalmost
  5. nirūpitāḥdirected
  6. priyāḥdear
  7. paramahaṁsānāmof the perfect beings
  8. te evathat also
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “devotional service”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is devotional service central to my spiritual life, or does it remain secondary?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today specifically for devotional service, rather than only learning about it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Brings Full SatisfactionThis 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 1.4.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories