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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 14: The Story of King Vena
4.14.194.14.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly personssince 4.14.17inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तस्मिंस्तुष्टे किमप्राप्यं जगतामीश्वरेश्वरे ।

लोका: सपाला ह्येतस्मै हरन्ति बलिमाद‍ृता: ॥ २० ॥

tasmiṁs tuṣṭe kim aprāpyaṁ

jagatām īśvareśvare

lokāḥ sapālā hy etasmai

haranti balim ādṛtāḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped by the great demigods who are controllers of universal affairs. When He is satisfied, nothing is impossible to achieve. For this reason all the demigods, presiding deities of different planets, as well as the inhabitants of their planets, take great pleasure in offering all kinds of paraphernalia for His worship.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Satisfying the Lord Is Life’s Goal

  1. 1

    Even the great demigods worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead with pleasure. When He is satisfied, nothing is impossible to achieve.

  2. 2

    All living entities should satisfy the Lord through their respective duties. He supplies everyone’s necessities, yet materialistic civilization encourages people to forget His grace and mercy.

  3. 3

    The ultimate goal of life is to approach Lord Viṣṇu and satisfy Him. Training in Kṛṣṇa consciousness helps people act toward this goal rather than remain captivated by materialistic activities.

Key points from the purport
  • All Vedic civilization is summarized in this verse: all living entities, either on this planet or on other planets, have to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead by their respective duties.
  • The state should also see that the people are engaged in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement was started to convince the general populace to adopt the best process by which to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus solve all problems.

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 14: The Story of King Vena

Vena rejects the sages’ advice; after his death, they seek to preserve King Aṅga’s family.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasminwhen He
  2. tuṣṭeis satisfied
  3. kimwhat
  4. aprāpyamimpossible to achieve
  5. jagatāmof the universe
  6. īśvara-īśvarethe controller of the controllers
  7. lokāḥthe inhabitants of the planets
  8. sapālāḥwith their presiding deities
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 4.14

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worship”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “mercy”, “grace”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “duties”

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

Do I remember the Lord’s mercy when receiving the necessities of life?

Practice

Pause before a meal today to acknowledge the Lord’s provision and renew your intention to satisfy Him through your duties.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySatisfying the Lord Is Life’s GoalThis 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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