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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
4.20.224.20.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.23

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.20.17inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura
A turning point forMahārāja Pṛthu· Instruction and counsel

पृथुरुवाच

वरान्विभो त्वद्वरदेश्वराद् बुध:

कथं वृणीते गुणविक्रियात्मनाम् ।

ये नारकाणामपि सन्ति देहिनां

तानीश कैवल्यपते वृणे न च ॥ २३ ॥

pṛthur uvāca

varān vibho tvad varadeśvarād budhaḥ

kathaṁ vṛṇīte guṇa-vikriyātmanām

ye nārakāṇām api santi dehināṁ

tān īśa kaivalya-pate vṛṇe na ca

Translation

My dear Lord, You are the best of the demigods who can offer benedictions. Why, therefore, should any learned person ask You for benedictions meant for living entities bewildered by the modes of nature? Such benedictions are available automatically, even in the lives of living entities suffering in hellish conditions. My dear Lord, You can certainly bestow merging into Your existence, but I do not wish to have such a benediction.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotees Seek No Material Benediction

  1. 1

    Karmīs desire heavenly life with greater happiness and a longer lifespan. Jñānīs and yogīs seek kaivalya, or merging into the Lord’s existence.

  2. 2

    The Lord is kaivalya-pati, the master who can grant that liberation. Yet pure devotees desire neither heavenly enjoyment nor merging into His existence.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu Mahārāja clearly rejected both kinds of benediction. Devotees do not even desire the positions of Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva, or to become equal with Lord Viṣṇu.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord is therefore addressed as kaivalya-pati, the master or Lord of the benediction known as kaivalya.
  • Devotees are anxious neither for the heavenly planets nor for merging into the existence of the Lord.
  • According to devotees, kaivalya, or merging into the existence of the Lord, is considered as good as hell.

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. pṛthuḥ uvācaPṛthu Mahārāja said
  2. varānbenedictions
  3. vibhomy dear Supreme Lord
  4. tvatfrom You
  5. vara-da-īśvarātfrom the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest of the bestowers of benedictions
  6. budhaḥa learned person
  7. kathamhow
  8. vṛṇītecould ask for
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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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “suffering”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do my prayers center on greater enjoyment, or on remaining devoted to the Lord?

Practice

Offer one prayer today asking to serve the Lord rather than asking for material comfort or status.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotees Seek No Material BenedictionThis 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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