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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
4.20.234.20.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

न कामये नाथ तदप्यहं क्‍वचिन्

न यत्र युष्मच्चरणाम्बुजासव: ।

महत्तमान्तर्हृदयान्मुखच्युतो

विधत्स्व कर्णायुतमेष मे वर: ॥ २४ ॥

na kāmaye nātha tad apy ahaṁ kvacin

na yatra yuṣmac-caraṇāmbujāsavaḥ

mahattamāntar-hṛdayān mukha-cyuto

vidhatsva karṇāyutam eṣa me varaḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, I therefore do not wish to have the benediction of merging into Your existence, a benediction in which there is no existence of the nectarean beverage of Your lotus feet. I want the benediction of at least one million ears, for thus I may be able to hear about the glories of Your lotus feet from the mouths of Your pure devotees.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear the Lord’s Glories From Pure Devotees

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja rejected merging into the Lord’s existence because it lacks the nectar of hearing His glories. Instead, he asked for one million ears to hear from pure devotees.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s glories should come from pure devotees who speak from the cores of their hearts. Such glorification is immediately effective, unlike ornamental recitation by nondevotees.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s glories are unlimited and can never be fully enumerated. Keeping the ears engaged in hearing them leaves no scope for Māyāvāda philosophy, which obstructs spiritual perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Pṛthu wanted to have a million ears to hear the glories of the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • But when heard from the mouth of a pure devotee, glorification of the Lord is immediately effective.
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja therefore wanted innumerable ears, as Rūpa Gosvāmī also desired to have millions of ears and millions of tongues to chant and hear the glorification of the Lord.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 4.20.24 quotesSB 1.1.3

It is stated in the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.3), śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam: the nectar of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam became more relishable because it emanated from the mouth of Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

The purport of SB 4.20.24 quotesSB 3.25.25

The words satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvidaḥ mean that glorification of the Lord is potent when uttered from the mouth of a pure devotee.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. kāmayedo I desire
  3. nāthaO master
  4. tatthat
  5. apieven
  6. ahamI
  7. kvacitat any time
  8. nanot
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “hearing”, “glorification”, “recitation”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyāvāda”

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

Am I choosing to hear the Lord’s glories from pure devotees rather than merely seeking an impressive presentation?

Practice

Spend five attentive minutes today hearing Śrīla Prabhupāda glorify the Lord.

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.

The purport quotesSB 1.1.3SB 3.25.25

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.20's connections

Live this todayHear the Lord’s Glories From Pure DevoteesThis 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 4.20.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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