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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
4.20.64.20.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.7

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 4.20.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

एक: शुद्ध: स्वयंज्योतिर्निर्गुणोऽसौ गुणाश्रय: ।

सर्वगोऽनावृत: साक्षी निरात्मात्मात्मन: पर: ॥ ७ ॥

ekaḥ śuddhaḥ svayaṁ-jyotir

nirguṇo ’sau guṇāśrayaḥ

sarva-go ’nāvṛtaḥ sākṣī

nirātmātmātmanaḥ paraḥ

Translation

The individual soul is one, pure, nonmaterial and self-effulgent. He is the reservoir of all good qualities, and He is all-pervading. He is without material covering, and He is the witness of all activities. He is completely distinguished from other living entities, and He is transcendental to all embodied souls.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Know Yourself and the Supreme

  1. 1

    The purport explains that Lord Viṣṇu is describing Himself as Paramātmā. He is distinct from both the embodied soul and the material world.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is pure, self-effulgent and beyond the material modes. Uncovered by a material body, He witnesses all the living entity’s activities.

  3. 3

    The living entity and Paramātmā are both spirit and are one in quality, yet they differ in many ways. Full knowledge means understanding both one’s own position and the Supreme’s position.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entities, who are many and who are entangled in this material world, are not pure.
  • Due to being covered by the material body, the living entities are not self-effulgent, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Paramātmā, is self-effulgent.
  • But both of them, the living entity and the Paramātmā, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are ātmā, or spirit.

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. ekaḥone
  2. śuddhaḥpure
  3. svayamself
  4. jyotiḥeffulgent
  5. nirguṇaḥwithout material qualifications
  6. asauthat
  7. guṇa-āśrayaḥthe reservoir of good qualities
  8. sarva-gaḥable to go everywhere
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: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understanding”

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

Can I recognize my spiritual nature without overlooking the Supreme Lord’s unique position?

Practice

Write down one shared spiritual quality and one distinction between the living entity and Paramātmā described in the purport.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKnow Yourself and the SupremeThis 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 4.20.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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