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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

4.22.23 4.22.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.24

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

अहिंसया पारमहंस्यचर्यया

स्मृत्या मुकुन्दाचरिताग्र्यसीधुना ।

यमैरकामैर्नियमैश्चाप्यनिन्दया

निरीहया द्वन्द्वतितिक्षया च ॥ २४ ॥

ahiṁsayā pāramahaṁsya-caryayā

smṛtyā mukundācaritāgrya-sīdhunā

yamair akāmair niyamaiś cāpy anindayā

nirīhayā dvandva-titikṣayā ca

Translation

A candidate for spiritual advancement must be nonviolent, must follow in the footsteps of great ācāryas, must always remember the nectar of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must follow the regulative principles without material desire and, while following the regulative principles, should not blaspheme others. A devotee should lead a very simple life and not be disturbed by the duality of opposing elements. He should learn to tolerate them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Live Simply and Remember Kṛṣṇa

1
A devotee practices nonviolence and is a friend of all living entities, seeing them as children of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Tolerance of personal hardship should go together with compassion for others who suffer.
2
Follow the great ācāryas and arrange daily life so that Kṛṣṇa is always remembered. Hearing about Him and following the regulative principles help make devotional service steady.
3
Live simply, control the senses, and avoid criticizing others’ religious methods. Illness and other difficulties do not mean that one has fallen from Kṛṣṇa consciousness; learn to tolerate them while continuing devotional service.

Key points from the purport

We have recommended in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement that a devotee chant sixteen rounds on beads daily and follow the regulative principles.
Thus a devotee should tolerate and learn to stop agitation.
One should not think that because he has fallen sick he has fallen from Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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 4.22.24 quotesSB 3.25.21

A sādhu is described as titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ: a devotee should be tolerant and should be very much compassionate toward others.

The purport of SB 4.22.24 quotesBG 2.14

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa therefore advises in Bhagavad-gītā (2.14), tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata: “My dear Arjuna, please try to tolerate all these disturbances.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

ahiṁsayāby nonviolence
pāramahaṁsya-caryayāby following in the footsteps of great ācāryas
smṛtyāby remembering
mukundathe Supreme Personality of Godhead
ācarita-agryasimply preaching His activities
sīdhunāby the nectar
yamaiḥby following regulative principles
akāmaiḥwithout material desires

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.22
In this verse: “devotee”, “devotional service”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.22
In this verse: “principles”, “religious”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.22
In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I arrange one part of my daily routine to remember Kṛṣṇa more steadily?

Practice

While doing one ordinary task today, listen to a reading about Kṛṣṇa from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLive Simply and Remember KṛṣṇaThis 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 4.22.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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