1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.38

Who is speaking and story frame

यस्मिन्निदं सदसदात्मतया विभाति

माया विवेकविधुति स्रजि वाहिबुद्धि: ।

तं नित्यमुक्तपरिशुद्धविशुद्धतत्त्वं

प्रत्यूढकर्मकलिलप्रकृतिं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३८ ॥

yasminn idaṁ sad-asad-ātmatayā vibhāti

māyā viveka-vidhuti sraji vāhi-buddhiḥ

taṁ nitya-mukta-pariśuddha-viśuddha-tattvaṁ

pratyūḍha-karma-kalila-prakṛtiṁ prapadye

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead manifests Himself as one with the cause and effect within this body, but one who has transcended the illusory energy by deliberate consideration, which clears the misconception of a snake for a rope, can understand that the Paramātmā is eternally transcendental to the material creation and situated in pure internal energy. Thus the Lord is transcendental to all material contamination. Unto Him only must one surrender.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender to the Eternally Liberated Supersoul

  1. 1

    Paramātmā, the Supersoul, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is eternally liberated. Although He lives within the body beside the individual soul, He remains above the illusory energy.

  2. 2

    The Lord and His energies are simultaneously one and different. The individual soul can come under material influence, but the Lord is always transcendental to it and superior to the individual soul.

  3. 3

    Surrender to the Supersoul is the process of devotional service. Devotional service is more important than mental speculation for understanding the Absolute Truth.

Key points from the purport
  • Even though the energies and the energetic are identical, the living entity, individual soul, being prone to be influenced by the external energy, considers the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be one with himself.
  • The individual soul, when surrendered, can understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although situated within the heart of the individual soul, is superior to the individual soul.
  • The material energy is a manifestation of His external potency, and since the potency is identical with the potent, it appears that the Lord and individual soul are one; but actually the individual soul is under the influence of material energy, and the Lord is always transcendental to it.

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 4.22.38 quotesBG 18.66

The word prapadye is also significant in this verse, for it refers to the conclusion of the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66): sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.

The purport of SB 4.22.38 quotesBG 7.19

In another place the Lord says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate.

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. yasminin which
  2. idamthis
  3. sat-asatthe Supreme Lord and His different energies
  4. ātmatayābeing the root of all cause and effect
  5. vibhātimanifests
  6. māyāillusion
  7. viveka-vidhutiliberated by deliberate consideration
  8. srajion the rope
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “understand”, “absolute truth”, “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “contamination”

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

How does recognizing the Lord's superiority help me approach Him with a desire to serve?

Practice

Pause today and offer a brief prayer of surrender to the Supreme Lord, asking to serve Him rather than rely only on speculation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender to the Eternally Liberated SupersoulThis 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 4.22.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.