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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 22: Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Meeting with the Four Kumāras
4.22.204.22.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.21

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sanat-kumārasince 4.22.20inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

शास्त्रेष्वियानेव सुनिश्चितो नृणां

क्षेमस्य सध्र्‌यग्विमृशेषु हेतु: ।

असङ्ग आत्मव्यतिरिक्त आत्मनि

द‍ृढा रतिर्ब्रह्मणि निर्गुणे च या ॥ २१ ॥

śāstreṣv iyān eva suniścito nṛṇāṁ

kṣemasya sadhryag-vimṛśeṣu hetuḥ

asaṅga ātma-vyatirikta ātmani

dṛḍhā ratir brahmaṇi nirguṇe ca yā

Translation

It has been conclusively decided in the scriptures, after due consideration, that the ultimate goal for the welfare of human society is detachment from the bodily concept of life and increased and steadfast attachment for the Supreme Lord, who is transcendental, beyond the modes of material nature.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attachment to the Lord Brings Detachment

  1. 1

    The scriptures identify human welfare with detachment from the bodily concept of life and steadfast attachment to the Supreme Lord, who is beyond the material modes.

  2. 2

    Inquiry about the Supreme helps one give up attachment to the material world. Increasing attachment for the Supreme means engaging in devotional service through hearing and chanting.

  3. 3

    A genuine taste for devotional service brings detachment from material activities. Love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of life.

Key points from the purport
  • Everyone in human society is engaged for the ultimate benefit of life, but persons who are in the bodily conception cannot achieve the ultimate goal, nor can they understand what it is.
  • By the evolutionary process in 8,400,000 species of life, one cannot understand the ultimate goal of life because in all those species of life, the bodily conception is very prominent.
  • Athāto brahma-jijñāsā means that in order to get out of the bodily conception, one has to increase attachment to or inquiry about Brahman.

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 4.22.21 quotesBG 2.59

The ultimate goal of life is described in Bhagavad-gītā (2.59): paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate.

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 22: Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Meeting with the Four Kumāras

The four Kumāras instruct Pṛthu, who dedicates himself and the fruits of his activities to the Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.22
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śāstreṣuin the scriptures
  2. iyān evathis is only
  3. su-niścitaḥpositively concluded
  4. nṛṇāmof human society
  5. kṣemasyaof the ultimate welfare
  6. sadhryakperfectly
  7. vimṛśeṣuby full consideration
  8. hetuḥcause
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “detachment”, “give up”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “welfare”

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

Am I seeking only to give things up, or am I cultivating a positive taste for devotional service?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to hear about the Supreme Lord, with the intention of increasing your attachment to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttachment to the Lord Brings DetachmentThis 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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