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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
4.20.84.20.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.9

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇusince 4.20.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

य: स्वधर्मेण मां नित्यं निराशी: श्रद्धयान्वित: ।

भजते शनकैस्तस्य मनो राजन् प्रसीदति ॥ ९ ॥

yaḥ sva-dharmeṇa māṁ nityaṁ

nirāśīḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ

bhajate śanakais tasya

mano rājan prasīdati

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, continued: My dear King Pṛthu, when one situated in his occupational duty engages in My loving service without motive for material gain, he gradually becomes very satisfied within.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Your Daily Work Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Performing occupational duties in loving service to the Lord, without seeking material gain, gradually brings inner satisfaction.

  2. 2

    The ultimate goal of work is devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Work should please Him rather than entangle us in its results.

  3. 3

    Anyone can adopt devotional service while remaining in their occupation. Hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping and offering the results of honest labor are means of serving the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Everyone is situated in his occupational duty, but the purpose of material occupations should not be material gain.
  • In this material world everyone is engaged in various professional and occupational duties, but the purpose of such activities should be to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Regardless of one’s occupational duty, one should adopt the devotional means of hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping, offering everything to the Lord and engaging in His service.

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. yaḥanyone who
  2. sva-dharmeṇaby his occupational duties
  3. māmMe
  4. nityamregularly
  5. nirāśīḥwithout any motive
  6. śraddhayāwith faith and devotion
  7. anvitaḥendowed
  8. bhajateworships
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “duty”, “duties”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “worshiping”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “king”

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 the purpose of my work shift from personal gain to pleasing the Lord?

Practice

Choose one task today and perform it carefully as service to the Lord, offering its result to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Your Daily Work 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.20.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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