1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.17.324.17.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.33

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

सर्गादि योऽस्यानुरुणद्धि शक्तिभि-

र्द्रव्यक्रियाकारकचेतनात्मभि: ।

तस्मै समुन्नद्धनिरुद्धशक्तये

नम: परस्मै पुरुषाय वेधसे ॥ ३३ ॥

sargādi yo ’syānuruṇaddhi śaktibhir

dravya-kriyā-kāraka-cetanātmabhiḥ

tasmai samunnaddha-niruddha-śaktaye

namaḥ parasmai puruṣāya vedhase

Translation

My dear Lord, by Your own potencies You are the original cause of the material elements, the performing instruments (the senses), the workers of the senses (the controlling demigods), the intelligence and the ego, as well as everything else. By Your energy You manifest this entire cosmic creation, maintain it and dissolve it. Through Your energy alone everything is sometimes manifest and sometimes not manifest. You are therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is the Cause of All Causes

  1. 1

    Creation begins with the total energy, the mahat-tattva. Through the agitation of the three guṇas, the physical elements, mind, ego and controllers of the senses arise.

  2. 2

    These are created one after another by the Lord’s inconceivable energy. Like a mechanic setting off a chain reaction with one button, the Lord sets creation in motion.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead manifests, maintains and dissolves the cosmic creation through His energies. Everything follows His inconceivable plan, and He is worthy of our respectful obeisances.

Key points from the purport
  • Then, by the agitation of the three guṇas, the physical elements are created, as well as the mind, ego and the controllers of the senses.
  • All of these are created one after another by the inconceivable energy of the Lord.
  • Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead pushes the button of creation, and different energies create the material elements and various controllers of the physical elements, and their subsequent interactions follow the inconceivable plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. sarga-ādicreation, maintenance and dissolution
  2. yaḥone who
  3. asyaof this material world
  4. anuruṇaddhicauses
  5. śaktibhiḥby His own potencies
  6. dravyaphysical elements
  7. kriyāsenses
  8. kārakacontrolling demigods
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”

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 might recognizing the Lord as the cause of all causes deepen my respect for Him?

Practice

Offer one respectful prayer to the Lord, acknowledging Him as the source and maintainer of everything.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is the Cause of All CausesThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.17.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories