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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
4.17.354.18.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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 जनैरीहितमीश्वराणा-

मस्मद्विधैस्तद्गुणसर्गमायया ।

न ज्ञायते मोहितचित्तवर्त्मभि-

स्तेभ्यो नमो वीरयशस्करेभ्य: ॥ ३६ ॥

nūnaṁ janair īhitam īśvarāṇām

asmad-vidhais tad-guṇa-sarga-māyayā

na jñāyate mohita-citta-vartmabhis

tebhyo namo vīra-yaśas-karebhyaḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, I am also the creation of one of Your energies, composed of the three modes of material nature. Consequently I am bewildered by Your activities. Even the activities of Your devotees cannot be understood, and what to speak of Your pastimes. Thus everything appears to us to be contradictory and wonderful.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa and Remain Peaceful

  1. 1

    The earth says that, being composed of the three modes of material nature, she is bewildered by the Lord’s activities. His activities are uncommon and wonderful, and must be accepted as inconceivable.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, eternally existing in Goloka Vṛndāvana. God is one, yet He eternally expands Himself in innumerable forms.

  3. 3

    There is a great plan behind all the Lord’s activities, even when they appear contradictory. The best course is to surrender to Him wholeheartedly and, being protected by Him, remain peaceful.

Key points from the purport
  • The activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various forms and incarnations are always uncommon and wonderful.
  • In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is confirmed that all the incarnations are partial expansions, or kalā, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • However, Kṛṣṇa is the original 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. nūnamsurely
  2. janaiḥby the people in general
  3. īhitamactivities
  4. īśvarāṇāmof the controllers
  5. asmat-vidhaiḥlike me
  6. tatof the Personality of Godhead
  7. guṇaof the modes of material nature
  8. sargawhich brings forth creation
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 4.17

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protected”

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

Where can I replace my demand to understand everything with wholehearted surrender to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of surrender to Kṛṣṇa today, asking to serve Him wholeheartedly and remain peaceful under His protection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.17's connections

Live this todaySurrender to Kṛṣṇa and Remain PeacefulThis 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 4.17.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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