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

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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 23: Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back Home
4.23.104.23.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.11

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

तस्यानया भगवत: परिकर्मशुद्ध

सत्त्वात्मनस्तदनुसंस्मरणानुपूर्त्या ।

ज्ञानं विरक्तिमदभून्निशितेन येन

चिच्छेद संशयपदं निजजीवकोशम् ॥ ११ ॥

tasyānayā bhagavataḥ parikarma-śuddha-

sattvātmanas tad-anusaṁsmaraṇānupūrtyā

jñānaṁ viraktimad abhūn niśitena yena

ciccheda saṁśaya-padaṁ nija-jīva-kośam

Translation

By regularly discharging devotional service, Pṛthu Mahārāja became transcendental in mind and could therefore constantly think of the lotus feet of the Lord. Because of this, he became completely detached and attained perfect knowledge by which he could transcend all doubt. Thus he was freed from the clutches of false ego and the material conception of life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Brings Knowledge and Detachment

  1. 1

    Through regular devotional service, Pṛthu Mahārāja’s mind became transcendental and absorbed in the Lord’s lotus feet. Constant remembrance brings one to śuddha-sattva, pure goodness beyond the modes of material nature.

  2. 2

    Devotional service is compared to a queen whose attendants include material opulence, liberation and mystic powers. A devotee does not pursue these benefits; knowledge and detachment arise through devotion itself.

  3. 3

    The devotee understands beyond doubt that his position is to be the Lord’s eternal servant. Although eternally a pure devotee, Pṛthu Mahārāja practiced devotional service to teach others the path back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The idea here is that the jñānīs, by culture of brahma-vidyā, spiritual knowledge, struggle very hard to get out of the clutches of material nature, but a devotee, by dint of his advancement in devotional service, automatically becomes detached from his material body.
  • Because of his regular discharge of devotional service, a devotee attains the transcendental stage of life.
  • Similarly, the fire of devotional service is so strong that a devotee does not need to act separately to attain perfect knowledge or detachment from material attractions.

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 4.23.11 quotesBG 14.26

As stated before, this is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): “One who is engaged in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.”

The purport of SB 4.23.11 quotesSB 10.2.32

patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ. The jñānīs and yogīs may rise to the highest position, Brahman realization, but because of their lack of devotion unto the lotus feet of the Lord, they again fall down into material nature.

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 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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyahis
  2. anayāby this
  3. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. parikarmaactivities in devotional service
  5. śuddhapure, transcendental
  6. sattvaexistence
  7. ātmanaḥof the mind
  8. tatof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.23

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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “detached”, “detachment”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understands”

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 can I give more attention to devotional service rather than seeking its accompanying benefits?

Practice

Take one quiet minute today to remember the Lord’s lotus feet and your position as His eternal servant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 10.2.32

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

Live this todayDevotion Brings Knowledge and DetachmentThis 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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