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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
4.22.384.22.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.39

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

यत्पादपङ्कजपलाशविलासभक्त्या

कर्माशयं ग्रथितमुद्ग्रथयन्ति सन्त: ।

तद्वन्न रिक्तमतयो यतयोऽपि रुद्ध

स्रोतोगणास्तमरणं भज वासुदेवम् ॥ ३९ ॥

yat-pāda-paṅkaja-palāśa-vilāsa-bhaktyā

karmāśayaṁ grathitam udgrathayanti santaḥ

tadvan na rikta-matayo yatayo ’pi ruddha-

sroto-gaṇās tam araṇaṁ bhaja vāsudevam

Translation

The devotees, who are always engaged in the service of the toes of the lotus feet of the Lord, can very easily overcome hard-knotted desires for fruitive activities. Because this is very difficult, the nondevotees — the jñānīs and yogīs — although trying to stop the waves of sense gratification, cannot do so. Therefore you are advised to engage in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Replace Material Desires With Loving Service

  1. 1

    Desires for material enjoyment are like the incessant waves of a river. Devotees overcome these strong desires through the transcendental bliss of serving the Lord's lotus feet.

  2. 2

    Desire cannot be stopped artificially; inferior desires must be replaced by superior desires. Devotional service uproots desires for fruitive activities by engaging our desire in serving the Supreme.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His lotus feet are the ultimate reservoir of pleasure. Developing loving desire for His service subdues material desires for sense gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • The bhaktas, by their transcendental devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Lord, become so overwhelmed with transcendental bliss that automatically their desires for material enjoyment stop.
  • One should therefore take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord instead of trying unsuccessfully to stop desires for material enjoyment.
  • The conclusion is that by developing a loving desire for the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, we subdue all material desires for 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· 5

The purport of SB 4.22.39 quotesSB 1.2.7

jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam. Here also the same point is stressed.

The purport of SB 4.22.39 quotesBG 2.59

Bhagavad-gītā (2.59) also confirms: paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. The conclusion is that by developing a loving desire for the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, we subdue all material desires for sense gratification.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.23.8

sroto-gaṇās tam araṇaṁ bhaja vāsudevam. Here the word prāṇāyāma does not refer to any ulterior motive.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.18.8

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.22.39) Sanat-kumāra speaks the following words to Mahārāja Pṛthu: “Devotees always engaged in the service of the toes of the Lord’s lotus feet can very easily become free from hard-knotted desires for fruitive activities.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.12.39

Yat-pāda-paṅkaja-palāśa-vilāsa-bhaktyā. Simply by thinking of Kṛṣṇa, one can attain Him very easily.

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. yatwhose
  2. pādafeet
  3. paṅkajalotus
  4. palāśapetals or toes
  5. vilāsaenjoyment
  6. bhaktyāby devotional service
  7. karmafruitive activities
  8. āśayamdesire
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

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

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 desire for material enjoyment could I replace with a desire to serve Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Write down one small act of service to Kṛṣṇa and carry it out today instead of spending that time on sense gratification.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 2 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayReplace Material Desires With Loving ServiceOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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