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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
4.20.314.20.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.32

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

मैत्रेय उवाच

इत्यादिराजेन नुत: स विश्वद‍ृक्

तमाह राजन्मयि भक्तिरस्तु ते ।

दिष्ट्येद‍ृशी धीर्मयि ते कृता यया

मायां मदीयां तरति स्म दुस्त्यजाम् ॥ ३२ ॥

maitreya uvāca

ity ādi-rājena nutaḥ sa viśva-dṛk

tam āha rājan mayi bhaktir astu te

diṣṭyedṛśī dhīr mayi te kṛtā yayā

māyāṁ madīyāṁ tarati sma dustyajām

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued by saying that the Lord, the seer of the universe, after hearing Pṛthu Mahārāja’s prayer, addressed the King: My dear King, may you always be blessed by engaging in My devotional service. Only by such purity of purpose, as you yourself very intelligently express, can one cross over the insurmountable illusory energy of māyā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Cross Beyond Māyā Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The Lord blessed Pṛthu Mahārāja to remain engaged in His devotional service. He praised the King’s purity of purpose as the means to cross beyond māyā.

  2. 2

    Fruitive activity, speculative philosophy and mystic yoga cannot overcome the Lord’s illusory energy. Devotional service is the only means of crossing the ocean of material existence.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee’s real occupation is service to the Lord, whether situated in heaven or hell. By remaining fixed in that service, one can overcome the stringent laws of material nature.

Key points from the purport
  • This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, wherein the Lord claims that the illusory energy is insurmountable.
  • The only means for transcending illusory energy is devotional service, as the Lord Himself states: mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te (Bg. 7.14).
  • A pure devotee should always engage in the service of the Lord, for that is his real occupation.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.20.32 quotesBG 7.14

The only means for transcending illusory energy is devotional service, as the Lord Himself states: mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te.

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. maitreyaḥMaitreya, the great sage
  2. uvācaspoke
  3. itithus
  4. ādi-rājenaby the original king (Pṛthu)
  5. nutaḥbeing worshiped
  6. saḥHe (the Supreme Personality of Godhead)
  7. viśva-dṛkthe seer of the whole universe
  8. tamunto him
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee’s”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā”, “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

How could I keep serving the Lord without making my circumstances the deciding factor?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes for devotional service today, without waiting for your circumstances to improve.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCross Beyond Māyā Through Devotional ServiceThis 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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