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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
4.11.224.11.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.23

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

अव्यक्तस्याप्रमेयस्य नानाशक्त्युदयस्य च ।

न वै चिकीर्षितं तात को वेदाथ स्वसम्भवम् ॥ २३ ॥

avyaktasyāprameyasya

nānā-śakty-udayasya ca

na vai cikīrṣitaṁ tāta

ko vedātha sva-sambhavam

Translation

The Absolute Truth, Transcendence, is never subject to the understanding of imperfect sensory endeavor, nor is He subject to direct experience. He is the master of varieties of energies, like the full material energy, and no one can understand His plans or actions; therefore it should be concluded that although He is the original cause of all causes, no one can know Him by mental speculation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Reveals Himself to Devotees

  1. 1

    The Absolute Truth cannot be understood through imperfect senses or mental speculation. Limited knowledge cannot fully comprehend the Lord’s varieties of energies or His plans.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead reveals Himself by His causeless mercy to a devotee who fully surrenders. He gives the intelligence needed to return home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Bhagavad-gītā is revealed scripture spoken by the Absolute Truth Himself. Studying it under a bona fide spiritual master helps one understand Kṛṣṇa as He is.

Key points from the purport
  • The answer is that the Absolute Truth, Transcendence, is never subject to direct experience or mental speculation.
  • The cause of all causes, the Absolute Truth, can be known from the Absolute Truth Himself, and not by our ascending process to reach Him.
  • The material scientist can simply study the partial understanding of the varieties of energies; he can take up one of the energies and try to understand it with limited knowledge, but still it is not possible to understand the Absolute Truth in full by dint of material science.

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. avyaktasyaof the unmanifested
  2. aprameyasyaof the Transcendence
  3. nānāvarious
  4. śaktienergies
  5. udayasyaof Him who gives rise to
  6. caalso
  7. nanever
  8. vaicertainly
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understanding”, “knowledge”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • 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.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to receive knowledge of Kṛṣṇa rather than expect my own speculation to explain Him?

Practice

Spend a few minutes studying Bhagavad-gītā with the explanation of a bona fide spiritual master.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Reveals Himself to DevoteesThis 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 4.11.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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