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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
4.20.284.20.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.29

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

भजन्त्यथ त्वामत एव साधवो

व्युदस्तमायागुणविभ्रमोदयम् ।

भवत्पदानुस्मरणाद‍ृते सतां

निमित्तमन्यद्भगवन्न विद्महे ॥ २९ ॥

bhajanty atha tvām ata eva sādhavo

vyudasta-māyā-guṇa-vibhramodayam

bhavat-padānusmaraṇād ṛte satāṁ

nimittam anyad bhagavan na vidmahe

Translation

Great saintly persons who are always liberated take to Your devotional service because only by devotional service can one be relieved from the illusions of material existence. O my Lord, there is no reason for the liberated souls to take shelter at Your lotus feet except that such souls are constantly thinking of Your feet.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Completes Self-Realization

  1. 1

    Self-realization is not complete until one reaches devotional service. Those whose spiritual knowledge is mature surrender to the Lord’s lotus feet.

  2. 2

    Liberated persons continue devotional service because it is the ultimate goal of life, not merely a means to liberation. The bliss of self-realization is very insignificant beside the bliss of serving the Lord.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu Mahārāja resolved to hear the Lord’s glories constantly and engage his mind upon His lotus feet. Such remembrance in devotional service is the highest perfection of life.

Key points from the purport
  • After self-realization, the material wisdom of the jñānī leads him to the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • In other words, the transcendental bliss derived from self-realization, known as ātmānanda, is very insignificant in the presence of the bliss derived from devotional service to the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja therefore concluded that he would simply hear of the glories of the Lord constantly and thus engage his mind upon the lotus feet 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.

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. bhajantithey worship
  2. athatherefore
  3. tvāmYou
  4. ataḥ evatherefore
  5. sādhavaḥall saintly persons
  6. vyudastawho dispel
  7. māyā-guṇathe modes of material nature
  8. vibhramamisconceptions
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: “illusions”, “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “shelter”, “surrender”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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

Do I see spiritual fulfillment merely as freedom from trouble, or as loving service to the Lord?

Practice

Read a short passage glorifying the Lord, then spend a quiet minute remembering His lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Completes Self-RealizationThis 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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