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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
4.20.264.20.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.27

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

अथाभजे त्वाखिलपूरुषोत्तमं

गुणालयं पद्मकरेव लालस: ।

अप्यावयोरेकपतिस्पृधो: कलि-

र्न स्यात्कृतत्वच्चरणैकतानयो: ॥ २७ ॥

athābhaje tvākhila-pūruṣottamaṁ

guṇālayaṁ padma-kareva lālasaḥ

apy āvayor eka-pati-spṛdhoḥ kalir

na syāt kṛta-tvac-caraṇaika-tānayoḥ

Translation

Now I wish to engage in the service of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to serve just like the goddess of fortune, who carries a lotus flower in her hand, because His Lordship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. I am afraid that the goddess of fortune and I would quarrel because both of us would be attentively engaged in the same service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve the Supreme Lord Without Envy

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is never controlled by material nature. The eternal living entities must not be considered equal to Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities and is especially inclined toward His devotees. They eagerly offer loving service, and He is inclined to accept it.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu Mahārāja desired to serve the Lord’s lotus feet as a servant. In the spiritual world, competition in service is without malice: devotees aspire to match excellent service rather than envy it.

Key points from the purport
  • The supreme eternals are the viṣṇu-tattva, or Lord Viṣṇu and His expansions.
  • The Māyāvādī philosophers equate the jīvas and the Supreme Lord and consider them to be one, but that is the greatest offense to the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu.
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja therefore decided to engage in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athatherefore
  2. ābhajeI shall engage in devotional service
  3. tvāunto You
  4. akhilaall-inclusive
  5. pūruṣa-uttamamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. guṇa-ālayamthe reservoir of all transcendental qualities
  7. padma-karāthe goddess of fortune, who carries a lotus flower in her hand
  8. ivalike
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • 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: “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

When I see someone serving well, do I feel envy or inspiration to improve my own service?

Practice

Notice one good quality in another devotee’s service and try to bring that quality into one small act of service today.

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 4.20's connections

Live this todayServe the Supreme Lord Without EnvyThis 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 4.20.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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