1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.23.264.23.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.27

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The wives of the demigodssince 4.23.26inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तेषां दुरापं किं त्वन्यन्मर्त्यानां भगवत्पदम् ।

भुवि लोलायुषो ये वै नैष्कर्म्यं साधयन्त्युत ॥ २७ ॥

teṣāṁ durāpaṁ kiṁ tv anyan

martyānāṁ bhagavat-padam

bhuvi lolāyuṣo ye vai

naiṣkarmyaṁ sādhayanty uta

Translation

In this material world, every human being has a short span of life, but those who are engaged in devotional service go back home, back to Godhead, for they are actually on the path of liberation. For such persons, there is nothing which is not available.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use This Short Life for Devotion

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa describes the material world as temporary and full of misery. Devotional service is the best use of our short human life.

  2. 2

    Devotees who serve the Lord’s lotus feet attain His abode, returning home, back to Godhead. Their destination is the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Even the highest material planets remain places of repeated birth and death. By the grace of a pure devotee, one receives the opportunity for pure devotional service and actual liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • Those devotees who are constantly engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord achieve not only all material benefits but also all spiritual benefits, for at the end of life they go back home, back to Godhead.
  • Generally the processes of jñāna, yoga and karma are executed life after life before one gets a chance to render pure devotional service to the Lord.
  • It is therefore said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.12), naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitam: “The path of liberation is not at all secure unless one attains the devotional service of the Lord.”

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· 4

The purport of SB 4.23.27 quotesBG 9.33

In Bhagavad-gītā (9.33) Lord Kṛṣṇa says, anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām. The Lord here declares that this material world is full of miseries (asukham) and at the same time is very flickering (anityam).

The purport of SB 4.23.27 quotesBG 8.16

In Bhagavad-gītā (8.16) the Lord affirms, ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino ’rjuna: “From the highest planet in the material world to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place.”

The purport of SB 4.23.27 quotesBG 9.21

In the Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (9.21), Lord Kṛṣṇa also asserts: “When they have thus enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they return to this mortal planet again.”

The purport of SB 4.23.27 quotesSB 1.5.12

It is therefore said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.12), naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitam: “The path of liberation is not at all secure unless one attains the devotional service of the Lord.”

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. teṣāmof them
  2. durāpamdifficult to obtain
  3. kimwhat
  4. tubut
  5. anyatanything else
  6. martyānāmof the human beings
  7. bhagavat-padamthe kingdom of God
  8. bhuviin the world
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”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “death”

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

What deserves more of your limited time when devotional service is life’s highest goal?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today specifically for devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, rather than another pursuit of material comfort.

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 1.5.12

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

Live this todayUse This Short Life for DevotionThis 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 4.23.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories