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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
4.17.314.17.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.32

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

नूनं बतेशस्य समीहितं जनै-

स्तन्मायया दुर्जययाकृतात्मभि: ।

न लक्ष्यते यस्त्वकरोदकारयद्

योऽनेक एक: परतश्च ईश्वर: ॥ ३२ ॥

nūnaṁ bateśasya samīhitaṁ janais

tan-māyayā durjayayākṛtātmabhiḥ

na lakṣyate yas tv akarod akārayad

yo ’neka ekaḥ parataś ca īśvaraḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, although You are one, by Your inconceivable potencies You have expanded Yourself in many forms. Through the agency of Brahmā, You have created this universe. You are therefore directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who are not sufficiently experienced cannot understand Your transcendental activities because these persons are covered by Your illusory energy.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

One Supreme Lord Acts Through Many Energies

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is one, yet He acts through material, spiritual, marginal and other energies. Living entities belong to His marginal energy.

  2. 2

    Brahmā is a living entity specially empowered to create the universe. He is an instrument; the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate creator.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s actions may appear contradictory, but a definite plan lies behind them. Understanding His supreme plan requires experience and His special grace.

Key points from the purport
  • Unless one is favored and especially endowed with grace, he cannot understand how the one Supreme Personality of Godhead acts through His different energies.
  • The living entities are also the marginal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Although Brahmā is supposed to be the creator of this universe, actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is its ultimate creator.

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 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. nūnamsurely
  2. batacertainly
  3. īśasyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. samīhitamactivities, plan
  5. janaiḥby people
  6. tat-māyayāby His potency
  7. durjayayāwhich is unconquerable
  8. akṛta-ātmabhiḥwho are not sufficiently experienced
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “grace”

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

Can I acknowledge the limits of my understanding when the Lord’s actions seem contradictory?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, then offer a brief prayer for the grace to understand the Lord’s activities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOne Supreme Lord Acts Through Many EnergiesThis 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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