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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
4.22.84.22.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.9

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Pṛthusince 4.22.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

नैव लक्षयते लोको लोकान् पर्यटतोऽपि यान् ।

यथा सर्वद‍ृशं सर्व आत्मानं येऽस्य हेतव: ॥ ९ ॥

naiva lakṣayate loko

lokān paryaṭato ’pi yān

yathā sarva-dṛśaṁ sarva

ātmānaṁ ye ’sya hetavaḥ

Translation

Pṛthu Mahārāja continued: Although you are traveling in all planetary systems, people cannot know you, just as they cannot know the Supersoul, although He is within everyone’s heart as the witness of everything. Even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot understand the Supersoul.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service Opens Our Spiritual Vision

  1. 1

    Even great demigods can be bewildered about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Brahmā and King Indra also mistook Kṛṣṇa when He was present on this planet.

  2. 2

    The Supersoul is within everyone’s heart, and pure devotees travel throughout the world. Yet those under the modes of material nature cannot properly understand the Lord or the Vaiṣṇavas.

  3. 3

    Material eyes alone cannot reveal the Supreme Personality of Godhead or a Vaiṣṇava. By purifying the senses and engaging in the Lord’s service, one gradually understands them.

Key points from the purport
  • Great demigods like Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Indra and Candra are sometimes bewildered trying to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The conclusion is that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in everyone’s heart, and His pure devotees, the Vaiṣṇavas, are also traveling all over the world, but those who are under the modes of material nature cannot understand the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of this cosmic manifestation, or the Vaiṣṇavas.
  • It is said, therefore, that one cannot see the Supreme Personality of Godhead or a Vaiṣṇava with these material eyes.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. evathus
  3. lakṣayatecan see
  4. lokaḥpeople
  5. lokānall planets
  6. paryaṭataḥtraveling
  7. apialthough
  8. yānwhom
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “king”

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 relying only on outward appearances when trying to recognize spiritual greatness?

Practice

Use your voice today to read this teaching attentively as a small act of service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayService Opens Our Spiritual VisionThis 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 4.22.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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