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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 20: Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.20.104.20.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.11

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

उदासीनमिवाध्यक्षं द्रव्यज्ञानक्रियात्मनाम् ।

कूटस्थमिममात्मानं यो वेदाप्नोति शोभनम् ॥ ११ ॥

udāsīnam ivādhyakṣaṁ

dravya-jñāna-kriyātmanām

kūṭa-stham imam ātmānaṁ

yo vedāpnoti śobhanam

Translation

Anyone who knows that this material body, made of the five gross elements, the sense organs, the working senses and the mind, is simply supervised by the fixed soul is eligible to be liberated from material bondage.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Soul Remains Fixed Amid Bodily Change

  1. 1

    The soul possesses the body but is different from it. The body changes at every moment, while the soul remains fixed.

  2. 2

    Happiness and distress come and go through the interaction of the modes of material nature. Lord Kṛṣṇa teaches that one should learn to tolerate these changes without being disturbed.

  3. 3

    Devotional service is the practical process for remaining unaffected by the body's actions and reactions. Full absorption in devotional service is called samādhi.

Key points from the purport
  • The body is changing at every moment, but the soul is fixed; therefore the soul is called kūṭa-stham.
  • In Bhagavad-gītā also, Lord Kṛṣṇa recommends that since happiness and distress come and go due to the interaction of the modes of nature on the body, one should not be disturbed by such external movements.
  • One should therefore not be disturbed by the action and reaction of these eight gross and subtle material elements.

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. udāsīnamindifferent
  2. ivasimply
  3. adhyakṣamthe superintendent
  4. dravyaof the physical elements
  5. jñānaknowledge-acquiring senses
  6. kriyāworking senses
  7. ātmanāmand of the mind
  8. kūṭa-sthamfixed
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “distress”

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 remembering that you are different from your changing body help you tolerate happiness and distress?

Practice

When a passing discomfort distracts you today, pause to remember the soul's fixed nature, then return your attention to devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Soul Remains Fixed Amid Bodily ChangeThis 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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