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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
4.23.144.23.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.15

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

उत्सर्पयंस्तु तं मूर्ध्नि क्रमेणावेश्य नि:स्पृह: ।

वायुं वायौ क्षितौ कायं तेजस्तेजस्ययूयुजत् ॥ १५ ॥

utsarpayaṁs tu taṁ mūrdhni

krameṇāveśya niḥspṛhaḥ

vāyuṁ vāyau kṣitau kāyaṁ

tejas tejasy ayūyujat

Translation

In this way, Pṛthu Mahārāja gradually raised his air of life up to the hole in his skull, whereupon he lost all desire for material existence. Gradually he merged his air of life with the totality of air, his body with the totality of earth, and the fire within his body with the totality of fire.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Beyond Material Coverings to Spiritual Bliss

  1. 1

    The spirit soul is covered by five gross elements and three subtle elements: mind, intelligence and ego. Liberation means becoming free from these material coverings.

  2. 2

    Pṛthu Mahārāja became free from material desires and merged his bodily elements with their total sources. Giving up these coverings does not end the soul’s existence; the living entity remains a spirit soul.

  3. 3

    The Brahman effulgence does not offer the spiritual variety and bliss enjoyed in Vaikuṇṭha or Kṛṣṇaloka. Without knowledge of these spiritual planets, the soul may again seek enjoyment in material activities.

Key points from the purport
  • When the spiritual spark, which is described as one ten-thousandth part of the tip of a hair, is forced into material existence, that spark is covered by gross and subtle material elements.
  • Indeed, success in yoga involves getting free from these material coverings and entering into spiritual existence.
  • When a living entity gives up the material coverings, he remains a spirit soul.

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 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. utsarpayanthus placing
  2. tubut
  3. tamthe air
  4. mūrdhnion the head
  5. krameṇagradually
  6. āveśyaplacing
  7. niḥspṛhaḥbeing freed from all material desires
  8. vāyumthe air portion of the body
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “spirit soul”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “free from”

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

Why is freedom from material coverings alone not the fullness of spiritual life?

Practice

Read the purport’s description of spiritual bliss once more, and reflect for a minute on the soul’s need for spiritual variety.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBeyond Material Coverings to Spiritual BlissThis 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 4.23.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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