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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
4.11.154.11.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.16

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Manusince 4.11.16inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

एवं प्रवर्तते सर्ग: स्थिति: संयम एव च ।

गुणव्यतिकराद्राजन्मायया परमात्मन: ॥ १६ ॥

evaṁ pravartate sargaḥ

sthitiḥ saṁyama eva ca

guṇa-vyatikarād rājan

māyayā paramātmanaḥ

Translation

Manu continued: My dear King Dhruva, it is simply by the illusory material energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by the interaction of the three modes of material nature that creation, maintenance and annihilation take place.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Beyond Material Modes Lies Eternal Life

  1. 1

    Creation, maintenance and annihilation occur through the interaction of material nature’s modes. All are conducted under the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Creation is the action of rajo-guṇa, passion; maintenance is the action of sattva-guṇa, goodness; and annihilation is the action of tamo-guṇa, ignorance.

  3. 3

    Material goodness can elevate one to higher planets with longer lives. Those who transcend the material modes and reach pure goodness attain eternal life in the spiritual world.

Key points from the purport
  • First, creation takes place with the ingredients of the five elements of material nature.
  • By the interaction of the material modes of nature, creation, maintenance and also annihilation take place inevitably.
  • Those who are transcendental even to the material modes of nature are situated in the mode of pure goodness; they attain eternal life in the spiritual world.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. pravartateoccurs
  3. sargaḥcreation
  4. sthitiḥmaintenance
  5. saṁyamaḥannihilation
  6. evacertainly
  7. caand
  8. guṇaof the modes
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “king”

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

Do I distinguish a longer material life from eternal life beyond the material modes?

Practice

Write down the three material modes and their functions, then note that pure goodness lies beyond them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBeyond Material Modes Lies Eternal LifeThis 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.

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