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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
4.22.394.22.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.40

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

कृच्छ्रो महानिह भवार्णवमप्लवेशां

षड्‌वर्गनक्रमसुखेन तितीर्षन्ति ।

तत्त्वं हरेर्भगवतो भजनीयमङ्‌घ्रिं

कृत्वोडुपं व्यसनमुत्तर दुस्तरार्णम् ॥ ४० ॥

kṛcchro mahān iha bhavārṇavam aplaveśāṁ

ṣaḍ-varga-nakram asukhena titīrṣanti

tat tvaṁ harer bhagavato bhajanīyam aṅghriṁ

kṛtvoḍupaṁ vyasanam uttara dustarārṇam

Translation

The ocean of nescience is very difficult to cross because it is infested with many dangerous sharks. Although those who are nondevotees undergo severe austerities and penances to cross that ocean, we recommend that you simply take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, which are like boats for crossing the ocean. Although the ocean is difficult to cross, by taking shelter of His lotus feet you will overcome all dangers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Lotus Feet Are Our Boat

  1. 1

    Human life gives us a chance to cross the ocean of nescience, or ignorance, and enter the spiritual world. Unlike the material universes, the Vaikuṇṭha planets exist eternally.

  2. 2

    Those who try to cross by karma, jñāna or yoga without shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet face great difficulty. Even an expert swimmer cannot survive an attack by the sharks, which represent the dangers of material existence.

  3. 3

    The Kumāras recommend devotional service with faith in the Lord’s lotus feet as safe boats. By taking this shelter, one can cross the ocean easily and comfortably.

Key points from the purport
  • Although there are many methods or boats by which one can cross the ocean, the Kumāras recommend that the King take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, just as one would take shelter of a good boat.
  • Nondevotees, who do not take shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet, try to cross the ocean of nescience by other methods (karma, jñāna and yoga), but they have a great deal of trouble.
  • On the other hand, anyone who takes to the process of devotional service and has faith that the lotus feet of the Lord are safe boats to cross that ocean is certain to cross very easily and comfortably.

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 4.22.40 quotesBG 8.20

On the other side of the ocean is the spiritual world of Vaikuṇṭha, which is described in Bhagavad-gītā (8.20) as paras tasmāt tu bhāvo ’nyaḥ.

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. kṛcchraḥtroublesome
  2. mahānvery great
  3. ihahere (in this life)
  4. bhava-arṇavamocean of material existence
  5. aplava-īśāmof the nondevotees, who have not taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. ṣaṭ-vargasix senses
  7. nakramsharks
  8. asukhenawith great difficulty
3

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “dangerous”, “dangers”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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

Where am I relying only on my own strength rather than seeking the Lord’s shelter?

Practice

Take a quiet minute today to pray for shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet and faith in devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Lotus Feet Are Our BoatThis 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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