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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
4.22.274.22.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.28

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

आत्मानमिन्द्रियार्थं च परं यदुभयोरपि ।

सत्याशय उपाधौ वै पुमान् पश्यति नान्यदा ॥ २८ ॥

ātmānam indriyārthaṁ ca

paraṁ yad ubhayor api

saty āśaya upādhau vai

pumān paśyati nānyadā

Translation

When the soul exists for sense gratification, he creates different desires, and for that reason he becomes subjected to designations. But when one is in the transcendental position, he is no longer interested in anything except fulfilling the desires of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage Everything in the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Material desires lead the soul to identify with bodily designations and think himself the master or enjoyer. Acting for sense gratification brings material happiness and distress.

  2. 2

    A liberated person understands that everything is connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be engaged in His service. True detachment means using things for the Lord without attachment to personal enjoyment.

  3. 3

    The highly advanced devotee sees everything in connection with its creator. He sees Kṛṣṇa in everything and everything in Kṛṣṇa, and is interested only in fulfilling the Lord’s desires.

Key points from the purport
  • Being covered by material desires, a spirit soul is also considered to be covered by designations belonging to a particular type of body.
  • Thus he acts for sense gratification and becomes subjected to material pangs, happiness and distress.
  • But when one is freed from such a concept of life, he is no longer subjected to designations, and he envisions everything as spiritual in connection with the Supreme Lord.

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 4.22.28 quotesCC Madhya 8.274

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 8.274) also it is explained that a mahā-bhāgavata, a highly advanced devotee, has no material vision: Although he sees trees, mountains, and other living entities moving here and there, he sees all as the creation of the Supreme Lord and, with reference to the context, sees only the creator and not the created.

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. ātmānamthe soul
  2. indriya-arthamfor sense gratification
  3. caand
  4. paramtranscendental
  5. yatthat
  6. ubhayoḥboth
  7. apicertainly
  8. satibeing situated
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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: “sense gratification”, “attachment”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “distress”

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 possession could I use for the Lord’s service rather than only for my own enjoyment?

Practice

Use one thing you already own for devotional service today, without seeking personal enjoyment from it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEngage Everything in the Lord’s ServiceThis 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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