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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
4.13.474.13.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.48

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

विज्ञाय निर्विद्य गतं पतिं प्रजा:

पुरोहितामात्यसुहृद्गणादय: ।

विचिक्युरुर्व्यामतिशोककातरा

यथा निगूढं पुरुषं कुयोगिन: ॥ ४८ ॥

vijñāya nirvidya gataṁ patiṁ prajāḥ

purohitāmātya-suhṛd-gaṇādayaḥ

vicikyur urvyām atiśoka-kātarā

yathā nigūḍhaṁ puruṣaṁ kuyoginaḥ

Translation

When it was understood that the King had indifferently left home, all the citizens, priests, ministers, friends, and people in general were greatly aggrieved. They began to search for him all over the world, just as a less experienced mystic searches out the Supersoul within himself.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Speculation Cannot Reveal the Supersoul

  1. 1

    The citizens were deeply aggrieved and searched everywhere for the King. Although he was somewhere, they did not know how to find him.

  2. 2

    The Absolute Truth is understood in three features: impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Less intelligent mystics may reach impersonal Brahman by mental speculation, but they cannot find the Supersoul within each living entity. Their frustration is compared to that of the citizens.

Key points from the purport
  • The example of searching for the Supersoul within the heart by the less intelligent mystics is very instructive.
  • Such kuyoginaḥ, or less intelligent mystics, can by mental speculation reach the point of the impersonal Brahman, but they cannot find the Supersoul, who is sitting within each living entity.
  • When the King left, it was certain that he was staying somewhere else, but because the citizens did not know how to find him they were frustrated like the less intelligent mystics.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vijñāyaafter understanding
  2. nirvidyabeing indifferent
  3. gatamhad left
  4. patimthe King
  5. prajāḥall the citizens
  6. purohitapriests
  7. amātyaministers
  8. suhṛtfriends
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “indifferently”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “friends”

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

What does this comparison teach me about the limits of mental speculation?

Practice

Write down the three features of the Absolute Truth named in the purport, noting that mental speculation alone cannot reveal the Supersoul.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpeculation Cannot Reveal the SupersoulThis 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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