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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
4.22.264.22.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.27

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

दग्धाशयो मुक्तसमस्ततद्गुणो

नैवात्मनो बहिरन्तर्विचष्टे ।

परात्मनोर्यद्वय‍वधानं पुरस्तात्

स्वप्ने यथा पुरुषस्तद्विनाशे ॥ २७ ॥

dagdhāśayo mukta-samasta-tad-guṇo

naivātmano bahir antar vicaṣṭe

parātmanor yad-vyavadhānaṁ purastāt

svapne yathā puruṣas tad-vināśe

Translation

When a person becomes devoid of all material desires and liberated from all material qualities, he transcends distinctions between actions executed externally and internally. At that time the difference between the soul and the Supersoul, which was existing before self-realization, is annihilated. When a dream is over, there is no longer a distinction between the dream and the dreamer.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Oneness in Service, Not Lost Individuality

  1. 1

    Liberation means being situated in one’s own constitutional position as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. When one acts in this consciousness, desires are no longer material.

  2. 2

    A person completely fixed in the Lord’s service is liberated in any condition of life. Free from personal sense gratification, such a devotee no longer divides activities into work for the body and work for liberation.

  3. 3

    Oneness with the Supreme Personality of Godhead means having no separate interests, not losing individuality. The soul and the Lord both retain their individuality while the devotee acts according to the Lord’s desire.

Key points from the purport
  • When a person becomes devoid of all material desires, there is no longer need for speculative knowledge or fruitive activities.
  • In other words, when material desires in connection with the body are finished, one is actually liberated.
  • When one is liberated from the material qualities, he does not do anything for his personal sense gratification.

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 4.22.27 quotesSB 2.10.6

As said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.10.6), mukti (liberation) means svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ, being situated in one’s own constitutional position.

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. dagdha-āśayaḥall material desires being burned
  2. muktaliberated
  3. samastaall
  4. tat-guṇaḥqualities in connection with matter
  5. nanot
  6. evacertainly
  7. ātmanaḥthe soul or the Supersoul
  8. bahiḥexternal
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “free from”

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

In my service, am I seeking personal enjoyment or trying to fulfill the Lord’s desire?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and remember, “I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOneness in Service, Not Lost IndividualityThis 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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