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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 23: Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back Home
4.23.124.23.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.13

Nirodha· Winding up
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

एवं स वीरप्रवर: संयोज्यात्मानमात्मनि ।

ब्रह्मभूतो द‍ृढं काले तत्याज स्वं कलेवरम् ॥ १३ ॥

evaṁ sa vīra-pravaraḥ

saṁyojyātmānam ātmani

brahma-bhūto dṛḍhaṁ kāle

tatyāja svaṁ kalevaram

Translation

In due course of time, when Pṛthu Mahārāja was to give up his body, he fixed his mind firmly upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and thus, completely situated on the brahma-bhūta platform, he gave up the material body.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remember Kṛṣṇa at Life’s Final Moment

  1. 1

    When the time came to leave his body, Pṛthu Mahārāja fixed his mind firmly on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. He departed fully situated on the brahma-bhūta, or liberated, platform.

  2. 2

    Spiritual progress is tested at the time of death. One who remembers Kṛṣṇa then is transferred to Goloka Vṛndāvana, or Kṛṣṇaloka, making life successful.

  3. 3

    By Kṛṣṇa’s grace, Pṛthu Mahārāja understood that his life was nearing its end and became joyful. Since bodily difficulties can make chanting at death difficult, remembering and chanting then depend on Kṛṣṇa’s grace.

Key points from the purport
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, could understand that the end of his life was near, and thus he became very jubilant and proceeded to completely give up his body on the brahma-bhūta stage by practicing the yogic process.
  • The yogic process practiced by Pṛthu Mahārāja at the time of death accelerates the giving up of this body while one is in sound health physically and mentally.
  • King Kulaśekhara wanted to give up his body while in a healthy state, and he thus prayed to Kṛṣṇa to let him die immediately while he was in good health and while his mind was sound.

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 4.23.13 quotesBG 8.6

In Bhagavad-gītā (8.6) it is also confirmed: yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram/ taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ.

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. evamthus
  2. saḥhe
  3. vīra-pravaraḥthe chief of the heroes
  4. saṁyojyaapplying
  5. ātmānammind
  6. ātmaniunto the Supersoul
  7. brahma-bhūtaḥbeing liberated
  8. dṛḍhamfirmly
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “give up”, “gave up”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “chanting”

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 the importance of remembering Kṛṣṇa at death inspire my devotional practice today?

Practice

Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa for a few quiet minutes today, praying for Kṛṣṇa’s grace to remember Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemember Kṛṣṇa at Life’s Final MomentThis 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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