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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
4.11.194.11.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.20

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Manusince 4.11.16inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

न वै स्वपक्षोऽस्य विपक्ष एव वा

परस्य मृत्योर्विशत: समं प्रजा: ।

तं धावमानमनुधावन्त्यनीशा

यथा रजांस्यनिलं भूतसङ्घा: ॥ २० ॥

na vai sva-pakṣo ’sya vipakṣa eva vā

parasya mṛtyor viśataḥ samaṁ prajāḥ

taṁ dhāvamānam anudhāvanty anīśā

yathā rajāṁsy anilaṁ bhūta-saṅghāḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His feature of eternal time, is present in the material world and is neutral towards everyone. No one is His ally, and no one is His enemy. Within the jurisdiction of the time element, everyone enjoys or suffers the result of his own karma, or fruitive activities. As, when the wind blows, small particles of dust fly in the air, so, according to one’s particular karma, one suffers or enjoys material life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Equal to Everyone

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original cause of all causes, but He is not partial. He has neither allies nor enemies.

  2. 2

    Living entities are never independent. Within the jurisdiction of time, they suffer or enjoy according to their own karma, or fruitive activities.

  3. 3

    The Lord gives everyone an equal chance. Like particles of dust carried by the wind, living entities experience different material conditions according to their karma.

Key points from the purport
  • The less intelligent accuse the Supreme Lord of being partial and claim that this is why one enjoys in this material world and another suffers.
  • As far as these three things are concerned, the Lord is equal to everyone; it is according to one’s karma that one suffers and enjoys.
  • God is very kind — He gives everyone an equal chance — but by the resultant actions of one’s own karma one suffers or enjoys this material 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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. vaihowever
  3. sva-pakṣaḥally
  4. asyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. vipakṣaḥenemy
  6. evacertainly
  7. vāor
  8. parasyaof the Supreme
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

How can remembering the Lord’s impartiality help me take responsibility for my choices?

Practice

Before making one choice today, pause and consider the consequences of your own action.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Equal to EveryoneThis 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 4.11.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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