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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
4.22.344.22.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.35

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

तत्रापि मोक्ष एवार्थ आत्यन्तिकतयेष्यते ।

त्रैवर्ग्योऽर्थो यतो नित्यं कृतान्तभयसंयुत: ॥ ३५ ॥

tatrāpi mokṣa evārtha

ātyantikatayeṣyate

traivargyo ’rtho yato nityaṁ

kṛtānta-bhaya-saṁyutaḥ

Translation

Out of the four principles — namely religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation — liberation has to be taken very seriously. The other three are subject to destruction by the stringent law of nature — death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Liberation Is Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Liberation must be taken very seriously, even at the sacrifice of religion, economic development and sense gratification. Death takes away the material gains accumulated through these other pursuits.

  2. 2

    Liberation means not accepting another material body after leaving this one. Even elevation to heavenly planets does not free us from birth, death, old age and disease.

  3. 3

    Real liberation is taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engaging in His devotional service. Our concern should be approaching Lord Viṣṇu’s spiritual planets, the highest of which is Goloka Vṛndāvana, where Lord Kṛṣṇa lives.

Key points from the purport
  • Mokṣa, or liberation, has to be taken very seriously, even at the sacrifice of the other three items.
  • Then again, economic development does not mean sense gratification.
  • The purport is that we can sacrifice our interests in traivargya — religious principles, economic development and sense gratification — but we cannot sacrifice the cause of liberation.

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 4.22.35 quotesBG 4.9

Regarding liberation, it is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti: liberation means that after giving up this body one does not have to accept another material body.

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. tatrathere
  2. apialso
  3. mokṣaḥliberation
  4. evacertainly
  5. arthefor the matter of
  6. ātyantikatayāmost important
  7. iṣyatetaken in that way
  8. trai-vargyaḥthe three others, namely religion, economic development and sense gratification
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “death”

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

Am I seeking temporary gains from spiritual life, or shelter in the Lord’s devotional service?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to pray for shelter and service to Lord Kṛṣṇa rather than for material gain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReal Liberation Is 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.

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