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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 21: Instructions by Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.21.504.21.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.51

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The citizenssince 4.21.51inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अद्य नस्तमस: पारस्त्वयोपासादित: प्रभो ।

भ्राम्यतां नष्टद‍ृष्टीनां कर्मभिर्दैवसंज्ञितै: ॥ ५१ ॥

adya nas tamasaḥ pāras

tvayopāsāditaḥ prabho

bhrāmyatāṁ naṣṭa-dṛṣṭīnāṁ

karmabhir daiva-saṁjñitaiḥ

Translation

The citizens continued: Today you have opened our eyes and revealed how to cross to the other side of the ocean of darkness. By our past deeds and by the arrangement of superior authority, we are entangled in a network of fruitive activities and have lost sight of the destination of life; thus we have been wandering within the universe.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Grace Reveals Life’s Devotional Destination

  1. 1

    Our actions bring us into contact with the modes of material nature. By superior arrangement, we receive different bodies in which to experience the results.

  2. 2

    Having lost sight of life’s destination, living entities wander throughout the universe in higher and lower forms of life. The citizens acknowledged that Pṛthu Mahārāja had opened their eyes.

  3. 3

    By the grace of the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we receive the clue to devotional life. This is where progressive success in life begins.

Key points from the purport
  • Due to the quality of our actions, we come to the association of the modes of material nature, and by superior arrangement we are given a chance to enjoy the fruitive results of such activities in different types of bodies.
  • In this way, having lost sight of their destination in life, all living entities are wandering in different species throughout the universe, sometimes getting birth in a lower species and sometimes existence in higher planetary systems; thus we are all wandering since time immemorial.
  • Here this is admitted by the citizens of King Pṛthu; in full consciousness they admit the benefit they have derived from the activities of Mahārāja Pṛthu.

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 21: Instructions by Mahārāja Pṛthu

Pṛthu addresses an assembly about devotional service and respect for brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.21
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. adyatoday
  2. naḥof us
  3. tamasaḥof the darkness of material existence
  4. pāraḥthe other side
  5. tvayāby you
  6. upāsāditaḥincreased
  7. prabhoO lord
  8. bhrāmyatāmwho are wandering
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “citizens”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “devotional”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How has spiritual guidance helped me see devotional service as life’s destination?

Practice

Recall one teaching that directed you toward devotional life, and take one small step to apply it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGrace Reveals Life’s Devotional DestinationThis 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 4.21.51? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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