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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
4.23.164.23.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.17

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

इन्द्रियेषु मनस्तानि तन्मात्रेषु यथोद्भवम् ।

भूतादिनामून्युत्कृष्य महत्यात्मनि सन्दधे ॥ १७ ॥

indriyeṣu manas tāni

tan-mātreṣu yathodbhavam

bhūtādināmūny utkṛṣya

mahaty ātmani sandadhe

Translation

He amalgamated the mind with the senses and the senses with the sense objects, according to their respective positions, and he also amalgamated the material ego with the total material energy, mahat-tattva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Sound Cleanses the Mind

  1. 1

    The merging process returns each effect to its original cause, finally winding everything up into mahat-tattva, the total material energy. Its purpose is to cleanse spiritual consciousness, not to make existence void.

  2. 2

    When material contamination is washed away, pure consciousness acts. Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches that chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra cleanses the mind and begins real, peaceful spiritual life.

  3. 3

    The yogic process described here is very difficult in the Age of Kali. The purport therefore recommends the simple process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa to become free from material contamination.

Key points from the purport
  • In this way the total mind, namely the material mind controlled by material demigods, was amalgamated with the senses.
  • The mind was attracted by the senses and the senses by the sense objects, and all of them were ultimately amalgamated in the sky.
  • When the mind is completely washed of all material contamination, the pure consciousness acts.

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. indriyeṣuin the sense organs
  2. manaḥthe mind
  3. tānithe sense organs
  4. tat-mātreṣuin the objects of the senses
  5. yathā-udbhavamwherefrom they generated
  6. bhūta-ādināby the five elements
  7. amūniall those sense objects
  8. utkṛṣyataking out
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”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “cleanse”, “contamination”

  • 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

How can I make room for spiritual sound in my day?

Practice

Slowly chant: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Sound Cleanses the MindThis 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 4.23.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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