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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 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
4.13.334.13.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.34

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The head priestssince 4.13.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तांस्तान् कामान् हरिर्दद्याद्यान् यान् कामयते जन: ।

आराधितो यथैवैष तथा पुंसां फलोदय: ॥ ३४ ॥

tāṁs tān kāmān harir dadyād

yān yān kāmayate janaḥ

ārādhito yathaivaiṣa

tathā puṁsāṁ phalodayaḥ

Translation

The performer of the sacrifices [under karma-kāṇḍa activities] achieves the fulfillment of the desire for which he worships the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Lord’s Satisfaction, Not Personal Enjoyment

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead awards the worshiper according to his desire. A fruitive worker enjoys the fruits of his own activities.

  2. 2

    The Lord asks His devotee to surrender unto Him, and He takes charge of the devotee. Under His guidance, the devotee advances in devotional service toward returning home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    A devotee’s aim is not to satisfy personal desires for sense gratification, but to satisfy the senses of the Lord. This distinguishes a devotee from a karmī.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that He awards benedictions to the worshiper according to his desire.
  • The fruitive actor enjoys only the fruits of his own activities, but a devotee, being under the guidance of the Supreme Lord, simply advances in devotional service to achieve the ultimate goal of life — to go back home, back to Godhead.
  • That is the difference between a karmī and a devotee.

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. tān tānthose
  2. kāmāndesired objects
  3. hariḥthe Lord
  4. dadyātwill award
  5. yān yānwhatsoever
  6. kāmayatedesires
  7. janaḥthe person
  8. ārādhitaḥbeing worshiped
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worships”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “surrender”

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

Am I approaching the Lord mainly for my own enjoyment or to please Him?

Practice

Before one act of worship today, pause and make pleasing the Lord your intention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek the Lord’s Satisfaction, Not Personal EnjoymentThis 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 4.13.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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