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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
4.17.294.17.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.30

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The planet earthsince 4.17.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

येनाहमात्मायतनं विनिर्मिता

धात्रा यतोऽयं गुणसर्गसङ्ग्रह: ।

स एव मां हन्तुमुदायुध: स्वरा-

डुपस्थितोऽन्यं शरणं कमाश्रये ॥ ३० ॥

yenāham ātmāyatanaṁ vinirmitā

dhātrā yato ’yaṁ guṇa-sarga-saṅgrahaḥ

sa eva māṁ hantum udāyudhaḥ svarāḍ

upasthito ’nyaṁ śaraṇaṁ kam āśraye

Translation

The planet earth continued: My dear Lord, You are the complete conductor of the material creation. You have created this cosmic manifestation and the three material qualities, and therefore You have created me, the planet earth, the resting place of all living entities. Yet You are always fully independent, my Lord. Now that You are present before me and ready to kill me with Your weapons, let me know where I should go to take shelter, and tell me who can give me protection.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa, Our Supreme Protector

  1. 1

    The earth acknowledges the Lord as the fully independent creator of the cosmic manifestation. Facing His weapons, she asks who else could protect her.

  2. 2

    No one can protect a person whom Kṛṣṇa is prepared to kill, and no one can kill a person whom Kṛṣṇa protects. Since everyone receives His protection, surrender to Him is proper.

  3. 3

    Full surrender means offering the Lord one’s mind, body, home and possessions. Whatever He chooses, the surrendered devotee remains His eternal servant.

Key points from the purport
  • The planet earth herein exhibits the symptoms of full surrender before the Lord.
  • Because the Lord was prepared to kill the planet earth, there was no one to give protection to her.
  • We are all receiving protection from the Lord, and it is therefore proper that every one of us surrender unto Him.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.17.30 quotesBG 18.66

In Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) the Lord instructs: “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.

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. yenaby whom
  2. ahamI
  3. ātma-āyatanamresting place of all living entities
  4. vinirmitāwas created
  5. dhātrāby the Supreme Lord
  6. yataḥon account of whom
  7. ayamthis
  8. guṇa-sarga-saṅgrahaḥcombination of different material elements
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “protection”, “protect”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “shelter”, “surrender”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 am I still reluctant to place under Kṛṣṇa’s care?

Practice

Offer a short prayer surrendering your mind, body and home to Kṛṣṇa, acknowledging yourself as His servant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender to Kṛṣṇa, Our Supreme ProtectorThis 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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