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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
4.22.224.22.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.23

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

अर्थेन्द्रियारामसगोष्ठ्यतृष्णया

तत्सम्मतानामपरिग्रहेण च ।

विविक्तरुच्या परितोष आत्मनि

विना हरेर्गुणपीयूषपानात् ॥ २३ ॥

arthendriyārāma-sagoṣṭhy-atṛṣṇayā

tat-sammatānām aparigraheṇa ca

vivikta-rucyā paritoṣa ātmani

vinā harer guṇa-pīyūṣa-pānāt

Translation

One has to make progress in spiritual life by not associating with persons who are simply interested in sense gratification and making money. Not only such persons, but one who associates with such persons should be avoided. One should mold his life in such a way that he cannot live in peace without drinking the nectar of the glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari. One can be thus elevated by being disgusted with the taste for sense enjoyment.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nourish Devotion Through Hearing and Chanting

  1. 1

    Spiritual advancement requires giving up company devoted only to money and sense gratification, including those who encourage such aims. One should also stop accepting these aims as life’s purpose.

  2. 2

    Simply avoiding materialistic association or living in seclusion is not enough. One needs positive engagement in devotional service, beginning with hearing the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    By serving the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa, one receives the seed of devotional service. Hearing and chanting water this seed, so association with devotees is essential for steady growth.

Key points from the purport
  • They should also not accept the objectives of materialistic persons, namely money and sense gratification.
  • One must drink the nectar of the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this means that one must be always engaged in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord.
  • The real cause of the growing of such fruit, which is here called the nectar of hearing the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is to water the creeper of devotional service by hearing and chanting.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.22.23 quotesSB 2.1.3

kuṭumba-bharaṇena vā. This is a typical example of materialistic persons.

The purport of SB 4.22.23 quotesSB 11.2.42

Therefore it is stated, bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca: to advance in devotional service one should be uninterested in the materialistic way of life.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arthariches
  2. indriyasenses
  3. ārāmagratification
  4. sa-goṣṭhīwith their companion
  5. atṛṣṇayāby reluctance
  6. tatthat
  7. sammatānāmsince approved by them
  8. aparigraheṇaby nonacceptance
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “glorification”, “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “materialistic”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.22

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

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

What in my daily company nourishes devotion, and what encourages only money and sense enjoyment?

Practice

Replace one optional conversation focused only on money or sense enjoyment with time hearing or chanting the Lord’s glories in devotees’ company.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 2.1.3

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.22's connections

Live this todayNourish Devotion Through Hearing and ChantingThis 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 4.22.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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