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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
4.11.284.11.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.29

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

तमेनमङ्गात्मनि मुक्तविग्रहे

व्यपाश्रितं निर्गुणमेकमक्षरम् ।

आत्मानमन्विच्छ विमुक्तमात्मद‍ृग्

यस्मिन्निदं भेदमसत्प्रतीयते ॥ २९ ॥

tam enam aṅgātmani mukta-vigrahe

vyapāśritaṁ nirguṇam ekam akṣaram

ātmānam anviccha vimuktam ātma-dṛg

yasminn idaṁ bhedam asat pratīyate

Translation

Therefore, my dear Dhruva, please turn your attention to the Supreme Person, who is the infallible Brahman. Face the Supreme Personality of Godhead in your original position, and thus, by self-realization, you will find this material differentiation to be merely flickering.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See Everyone as an Eternal Servant

  1. 1

    The living entity passes through many material bodies but remains eternal. Seeing only the body makes one living entity appear different from another.

  2. 2

    Manu wanted Dhruva Mahārāja to stop viewing the Yakṣas as his enemies. A liberated devotee sees all living entities as spirit souls, eternal servants of the Lord.

  3. 3

    By turning toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead and becoming situated as His eternal servant, one sees bodily distinctions as temporary.

Key points from the purport
  • When living entities, therefore, are viewed in the bodily concept of life, one appears to be different from another.
  • A devotee, who is already liberated, does not see differentiation in terms of the outward body; he sees all living entities as spirit souls, eternal servants of the Lord.
  • Dhruva Mahārāja was advised by Lord Manu to see with that vision.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.11.29 quotesBG 18.54

In other words, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.54): A devotee, who is already liberated, does not see differentiation in terms of the outward body; he sees all living entities as spirit souls, eternal servants of the Lord.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. tamHim
  2. enamthat
  3. aṅgamy dear Dhruva
  4. ātmaniin the mind
  5. mukta-vigrahefree from anger
  6. vyapāśritamsituated
  7. nirguṇamtranscendental
  8. ekamone
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 might seeing others as eternal servants of the Lord change my attitude toward someone I dislike?

Practice

When you meet someone today, pause to remember that this person is a spirit soul, an eternal servant of the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySee Everyone as an Eternal ServantThis 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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