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

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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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 4 · Chapter 11: Svāyambhuva Manu Advises Dhruva Mahārāja to Stop Fighting
4.11.124.11.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.13

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Manusince 4.11.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तितिक्षया करुणया मैत्र्या चाखिलजन्तुषु ।

समत्वेन च सर्वात्मा भगवान् सम्प्रसीदति ॥ १३ ॥

titikṣayā karuṇayā

maitryā cākhila-jantuṣu

samatvena ca sarvātmā

bhagavān samprasīdati

Translation

The Lord is very satisfied with His devotee when the devotee greets other people with tolerance, mercy, friendship and equality.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Please the Lord Through Merciful Relationships

  1. 1

    A devotee should be tolerant when ill-treated and merciful toward innocent or ignorant people. Helping them awaken Kṛṣṇa consciousness and enter devotional service is mercy.

  2. 2

    A devotee should maintain friendship with fellow devotees. Everyone is constitutionally an eternal servant of God.

  3. 3

    A devotee sees every living entity as part of the Supreme Lord, despite different bodily forms. Tolerance, mercy, friendship and equality greatly satisfy the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • In the second stage the devotee is cognizant of his relationship with the Lord, his relationship with fellow devotees, his relationship with persons who are innocent and his relationship with persons who are envious.
  • It is advised that an advanced devotee should be tolerant; he should show complete mercy to persons who are ignorant or innocent.
  • Such treatment by the devotee is very much appreciated by the Supreme Lord.

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

Rejection → Transformed aspiration. A child's wounded pride is purified by divine encounter.

Chapters 8–12 of Canto 4: Dhruva seeks and encounters the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: Svāyambhuva Manu Advises Dhruva Mahārāja to Stop Fighting

Svāyambhuva Manu urges Dhruva to stop killing innocent Yakṣas and turn his attention to the Supreme Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. titikṣayāby tolerance
  2. karuṇayāby mercy
  3. maitryāby friendship
  4. caalso
  5. akhilauniversal
  6. jantuṣuunto the living entities
  7. samatvenaby equilibrium
  8. caalso
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotional service”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “mercy”, “merciful”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “friendship”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which relationship today calls for more tolerance, mercy or friendship from me?

Practice

In one difficult interaction today, respond patiently rather than with hostility.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPlease the Lord Through Merciful RelationshipsThis 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 4.11.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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