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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 23: Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back Home

4.23.9 4.23.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.10

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.22.48inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

भगवद्धर्मिण: साधो: श्रद्धया यतत: सदा ।

भक्तिर्भगवति ब्रह्मण्यनन्यविषयाभवत् ॥ १० ॥

bhagavad-dharmiṇaḥ sādhoḥ

śraddhayā yatataḥ sadā

bhaktir bhagavati brahmaṇy

ananya-viṣayābhavat

Translation

Mahārāja Pṛthu thus engaged completely in devotional service, executing the rules and regulations strictly according to principles, twenty-four hours daily. Thus his love and devotion unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, developed and became unflinching and fixed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Service Makes Devotion Steady

1
Mahārāja Pṛthu practiced devotional service faithfully, following its rules and regulations throughout the day. His love for Kṛṣṇa became unflinching and fixed.
2
Pure devotional service means favorable service to the Lord, free from material desires, fruitive activity and speculative knowledge. Such service is beyond religious pretension.
3
A pure devotee seeks service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not merging into impersonal Brahman. Mahārāja Pṛthu became steady through devotional service without taking recourse to karma, jñāna or yoga.

Key points from the purport

Impersonal Brahman is a subordinate feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and since impersonal Brahman worshipers desire to merge into the Brahman effulgence, they cannot be considered followers of bhagavad-dharma.
It is clear from this verse that Mahārāja Pṛthu was never a worshiper of the impersonal Brahman but was at all times a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Bhagavati brahmaṇi refers to one who is engaged in devotional service to the Personality of Godhead.

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 4.23.10 quotesSB 1.1.2

As stated in the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.2), dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra: religious principles which are simply pretentious are actually nothing but cheating.

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

Chapter 23: Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back Home

Pṛthu practices forest austerities and fixed devotion to Kṛṣṇa, then departs; Arci’s faithful service is praised.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.23

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

bhagavat-dharmiṇaḥone who executes devotional service
sādhoḥof the devotee
śraddhayāwith faith
yatataḥendeavoring
sadāalways
bhaktiḥdevotion
bhagavatiunto the Personality of Godhead
brahmaṇithe origin of impersonal Brahman
ananya-viṣayāfirmly fixed without deviation
abhavatbecame

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 4.23
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.23
In this verse: “principles”, “religious”
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 4.23
In this verse: “love”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I approaching devotional service to please Kṛṣṇa or to obtain something material?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and renew your intention to please Kṛṣṇa rather than seek a material reward.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 1.1.2

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.23's connections

Live this todayPure Service Makes Devotion SteadyThis 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 4.23.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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