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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 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth
4.17.284.17.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.29

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The planet earthsince 4.17.29inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

धरोवाच

नम: परस्मै पुरुषाय मायया

विन्यस्तनानातनवे गुणात्मने ।

नम: स्वरूपानुभवेन निर्धुत

द्रव्यक्रियाकारकविभ्रमोर्मये ॥ २९ ॥

dharovāca

namaḥ parasmai puruṣāya māyayā

vinyasta-nānā-tanave guṇātmane

namaḥ svarūpānubhavena nirdhuta-

dravya-kriyā-kāraka-vibhramormaye

Translation

The planet earth spoke: My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are transcendental in Your position, and by Your material energy You have expanded Yourself in various forms and species of life through the interaction of the three modes of material nature. Unlike some other masters, You always remain in Your transcendental position and are not affected by the material creation, which is subject to different material interactions. Consequently You are not bewildered by material activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remain Transcendental Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The earth recognized Pṛthu Mahārāja as a directly empowered incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Knowing that she could not deceive him, she approached him humbly.

  2. 2

    Material nature works under the Lord’s direction, yet He remains in His spiritual energy, unaffected by material interactions. He is simultaneously one with and different from His creation.

  3. 3

    A devotee always engaged in devotional service is liberated regardless of material circumstances. Knowing the soul’s position, the devotee chants Hare Kṛṣṇa without becoming attached to the material body.

Key points from the purport
  • Just as a devotee is never bewildered by his material body, the Lord is never bewildered by the external energy of this material world.
  • Although the Lord is connected with the material world, He is always situated in His spiritual energy and is always unattached to the functions of the material world.
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being the all-powerful master of all energies, has some connection with the external energy, but He is always free from the interactions of the external energy in the material world.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.17.29 quotesBG 9.10

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10), mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ: material nature is working under the direction of the Lord.

The purport of SB 4.17.29 quotesBG 13.15

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (13.15), nirguṇaṁ guṇa-bhoktṛ ca: although the Lord is not attached to the external energy, He is nonetheless the master of it.

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

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 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth

Pṛthu pursues the cow-shaped earth, who offers prayers and appeals to his mercy.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dharāthe planet earth
  2. uvācasaid
  3. namaḥI offer my obeisances
  4. parasmaiunto the Transcendence
  5. puruṣāyaunto the person
  6. māyayāby the material energy
  7. vinyastaexpanded
  8. nānāvarious
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “material”, “attached”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.17

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “chants”

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 keep devotional service central amid changing bodily circumstances?

Practice

Chant once attentively: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemain Transcendental Through Devotional ServiceThis 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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