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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 22: Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Meeting with the Four Kumāras
4.22.294.22.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.30

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

इन्द्रियैर्विषयाकृष्टैराक्षिप्तं ध्यायतां मन: ।

चेतनां हरते बुद्धे: स्तम्बस्तोयमिव ह्रदात् ॥ ३० ॥

indriyair viṣayākṛṣṭair

ākṣiptaṁ dhyāyatāṁ manaḥ

cetanāṁ harate buddheḥ

stambas toyam iva hradāt

Translation

When one’s mind and senses are attracted to sense objects for enjoyment, the mind becomes agitated. As a result of continually thinking of sense objects, one’s real consciousness almost becomes lost, like the water in a lake that is gradually sucked up by the big grass straws on its bank.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify Desires Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Continually thinking of sense gratification agitates the mind and makes us forget our relationship with the Supreme Lord. Gradually, it affects our intelligence and our taste for Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  2. 2

    Material desires drain clear consciousness like tall grass drawing water from a lake. These unwanted desires should be checked from the very beginning.

  3. 3

    We cannot kill desires, but we can purify them by directing them toward the Lord’s transcendental loving service. Keeping in touch with devotional service gradually burns material desires to ashes.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse it is very nicely explained how our original Kṛṣṇa consciousness becomes polluted and we gradually become almost completely forgetful of our relationship with the Supreme Lord.
  • When the mind is allowed to think of sense gratification continuously, it becomes the cause of our material bondage.
  • But if our desires are applied to the service of the Lord, they become purified, and thus we become immediately freed from material contamination.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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. indriyaiḥby the senses
  2. viṣayathe sense objects
  3. ākṛṣṭaiḥbeing attracted
  4. ākṣiptamagitated
  5. dhyāyatāmalways thinking of
  6. manaḥmind
  7. cetanāmconsciousness
  8. haratebecomes lost
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “purify”

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

Which recurring desire is drawing my attention away from serving the Lord?

Practice

When one desire for sense enjoyment arises today, pause and spend a minute thinking about how you could instead serve the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurify Desires Through Devotional 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.22.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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