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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
4.23.134.23.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.14

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

सम्पीड्य पायुं पार्ष्णिभ्यां वायुमुत्सारयञ्छनै: ।

नाभ्यां कोष्ठेष्ववस्थाप्य हृदुर:कण्ठशीर्षणि ॥ १४ ॥

sampīḍya pāyuṁ pārṣṇibhyāṁ

vāyum utsārayañ chanaiḥ

nābhyāṁ koṣṭheṣv avasthāpya

hṛd-uraḥ-kaṇṭha-śīrṣaṇi

Translation

When Mahārāja Pṛthu practiced a particular yogic sitting posture, he blocked the door of his anus with his ankles, pressed his right and left calves and gradually raised his life air upward, passing it on to the circle of his navel, up to his heart and throat, and finally pushed it upward to the central position between his two eyebrows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Returning to Godhead Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The posture described is called muktāsana. In the yoga process, sitting postures follow strict regulative principles controlling sleeping, eating and mating.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Pṛthu did not desire material facilities in higher planetary systems. He used his previous yoga practice to hasten his return home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Those practicing bhakti-yoga can return to Godhead without practicing muktāsana. Devotional service keeps the devotee on the brahma-bhūta platform, the spiritual position required for returning to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Mahārāja Pṛthu stopped all practice of mystic yoga after realizing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he took advantage of his previous practice and immediately placed himself on the brahma-bhūta platform in order to accelerate his return to Godhead.
  • The conclusion is that one has to come to the brahma-bhūta stage for going back to Godhead.
  • As far as Mahārāja Pṛthu was concerned, he had already practiced this process, and since he did not want to wait for the time when his death would occur naturally, he took advantage of the ṣaṭ-cakra penetration process and thus gave up the body according to his own free will and immediately entered the spiritual sky.

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 4.23.14 quotesBG 14.26

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): The bhakti-yogī, practicing bhakti-yoga, is always situated on the brahma-bhūta stage (brahma-bhūyāya kalpate).

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. sampīḍyaby blocking
  2. pāyumthe door of the anus
  3. pārṣṇibhyāmby the calves
  4. vāyumthe air which goes up
  5. utsārayanpushing upward
  6. śanaiḥgradually
  7. nābhyāmby the navel
  8. koṣṭheṣuin the heart and in the throat
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”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 more attracted to material facilities or to returning home, back to Godhead?

Practice

Spend five quiet minutes remembering Kṛṣṇa, making devotional service rather than material gain your aim.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReturning to Godhead Through Devotional ServiceThis 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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