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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 20: Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.20.94.20.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.10

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇusince 4.20.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

परित्यक्तगुण: सम्यग्दर्शनो विशदाशय: ।

शान्तिं मे समवस्थानं ब्रह्म कैवल्यमश्नुते ॥ १० ॥

parityakta-guṇaḥ samyag

darśano viśadāśayaḥ

śāntiṁ me samavasthānaṁ

brahma kaivalyam aśnute

Translation

When the heart is cleansed of all material contamination, the devotee’s mind becomes broader and transparent and he can see things equally. At that stage of life there is peace, and one is situated equally with Me as sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purity Reveals Our Eternal Service

  1. 1

    When material contamination is removed, the devotee’s mind becomes clear and broad. Equal vision and peace follow.

  2. 2

    The Vaiṣṇava understanding of liberation is not merging into the Supreme. It includes knowing both one’s own position and the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    In the uncontaminated condition, the living entity understands that he is the Supreme’s eternal servant. Transcendental loving service places one on the spiritual platform.

Key points from the purport
  • The Māyāvāda conception of kaivalya and that of the Vaiṣṇava community is different.
  • The Māyāvādī thinks that as soon as one is free from all material contamination, he is merged into the existence of the Supreme.
  • As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, when one is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, he is immediately situated on the transcendental platform of kaivalya, or Brahman.

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 20: Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja Pṛthu

Lord Viṣṇu appears with Indra, instructs Pṛthu, and receives his worship and devotional prayers.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.20
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. parityakta-guṇaḥone who is disassociated from the material modes of nature
  2. samyakequal
  3. darśanaḥwhose vision
  4. viśadauncontaminated
  5. āśayaḥwhose mind or heart
  6. śāntimpeace
  7. meMy
  8. samavasthānamequal situation
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “cleansed”, “contamination”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “devotee’s”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.20

    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 does understanding myself as the Lord’s eternal servant change my idea of spiritual perfection?

Practice

Before a brief act of loving service today, reflect: “I am the eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurity Reveals Our Eternal 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.20.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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