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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
4.13.24.13.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 4.13.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मन्ये महाभागवतं नारदं देवदर्शनम् ।

येन

प्रोक्त: क्रियायोग: परिचर्याविधिर्हरे: ॥ ३ ॥

manye mahā-bhāgavataṁ

nāradaṁ deva-darśanam

yena proktaḥ kriyā-yogaḥ

paricaryā-vidhir hareḥ

Translation

Vidura continued: I know that the great sage Nārada is the greatest of all devotees. He has compiled the pāñcarātrika procedure of devotional service and has directly met the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Two Ways of Worship Support Steady Progress

  1. 1

    Vidura recognized Nārada as the greatest of devotees, who had directly met the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Pāñcarātrika-vidhi is the method of temple worship, introduced by Nārada. Bhāgavata-vidhi consists of nine devotional processes beginning with hearing and chanting.

  3. 3

    The Kṛṣṇa conscious movement accepts both processes together. This enables steady progress toward realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • There are two different ways of approaching the Supreme Lord.
  • The Kṛṣṇa conscious movement accepts both processes simultaneously and thus enables one to make steady progress on the path of realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • This pāñcarātrika procedure was first introduced by the great sage Nārada, as referred to here by Vidura.

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

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja

Dhruva’s descendants are described, followed by an account of a sonless king and the cruel boy Vena.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.13
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. manyeI think
  2. mahā-bhāgavatamthe greatest of all devotees
  3. nāradamthe sage Nārada
  4. devathe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. darśanamwho met
  6. yenaby whom
  7. proktaḥspoken
  8. kriyā-yogaḥdevotional service
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.13

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

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 I give hearing and chanting a steady place alongside worship?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for devotional hearing or chanting.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTwo Ways of Worship Support Steady ProgressThis 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 4.13.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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