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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
1.4.71.4.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.8

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

स गोदोहनमात्रं हि गृहेषु गृहमेधिनाम् ।

अवेक्षते महाभागस्तीर्थीकुर्वंस्तदाश्रमम् ॥ ८ ॥

sa go-dohana-mātraṁ hi

gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām

avekṣate mahā-bhāgas

tīrthī-kurvaṁs tad āśramam

Translation

He [Śukadeva Gosvāmī] was accustomed to stay at the door of a householder only long enough for a cow to be milked. And he did this just to sanctify the residence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Enlighten Without Seeking Worldly Gain

  1. 1

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī stayed at a householder's door only briefly, accepting alms and sanctifying the residence by his auspicious presence.

  2. 2

    He is an ideal preacher established in the transcendental position. Renounced preachers should approach householders to enlighten them in transcendental knowledge.

  3. 3

    A renounced person must not be attracted by householders' worldly possessions or become subservient to worldly people. The purpose of accepting alms is spiritual benefit, not material gain.

Key points from the purport
  • He was not accustomed to stay at any householder’s residence for more than half an hour (at the time of milking the cow), and he would just take alms from the fortunate householder.
  • Therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī is an ideal preacher established in the transcendental position.
  • One who is in the renounced order of life should not be allured by the glamor of the householder’s worldly possessions and thus become subservient to worldly men.

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. saḥhe (Śukadeva Gosvāmī)
  2. go-dohana-mātramonly for the time of milking the cow
  3. hicertainly
  4. gṛheṣuin the house
  5. gṛha-medhināmof the householders
  6. avekṣatewaits
  7. mahā-bhāgaḥthe most fortunate
  8. tīrthīpilgrimage
  9. kurvantransforming
  10. tat āśramamthe residence
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “householder”, “householder's”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “renounced”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I share spiritual knowledge, am I seeking another person's benefit or some worldly advantage?

Practice

Share one sentence of spiritual teaching from this purport with someone willing to hear, without asking for anything in return.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEnlighten Without Seeking Worldly GainThis 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 1.4.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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