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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
4.23.64.23.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.7

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

तितिक्षुर्यतवाग्दान्त ऊर्ध्वरेता जितानिल: ।

आरिराधयिषु: कृष्णमचरत्तप उत्तमम् ॥ ७ ॥

titikṣur yata-vāg dānta

ūrdhva-retā jitānilaḥ

ārirādhayiṣuḥ kṛṣṇam

acarat tapa uttamam

Translation

Mahārāja Pṛthu underwent all these severe austerities in order to control his words and his senses, to refrain from discharging his semen and to control the life air within his body. All this he did for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. He had no other purpose.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Please Kṛṣṇa Through His Holy Name

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Pṛthu controlled his speech, senses and life air solely for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. He had no other purpose in performing austerities.

  2. 2

    For Kali-yuga, the purport recommends chanting the Lord’s holy name and engaging constantly in His service. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, kindly appears in the transcendental vibration of His name.

  3. 3

    If Kṛṣṇa is worshiped, severe austerities are unnecessary; without reaching Him, austerity is wasted labor. We need not be discouraged by our inability to practice forest austerities, but should follow the spiritual master and the Vaiṣṇavas.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Pṛthu Mahārāja executed his austerities long before the appearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa on this planet, his purpose was still to please Kṛṣṇa.
  • Therefore worship of Kṛṣṇa is conducted in all millenniums.
  • Also of significance in this verse are the words ārirādhayiṣuḥ kṛṣṇam acarat tapa uttamam: Mahārāja Pṛthu underwent severe types of austerities for the express purpose of worshiping Kṛṣṇa.

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 4.23.7 quotesSB 1.2.8

If, after executing all types of tapasya, one cannot reach Kṛṣṇa, all his tapasya has no value, for without Kṛṣṇa all austerity is simply wasted labor, śrama eva hi kevalam.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. titikṣuḥtolerating
  2. yatacontrolling
  3. vākwords
  4. dāntaḥcontrolling the senses
  5. ūrdhva-retāḥwithout discharge of semen
  6. jita-anilaḥcontrolling the life air
  7. ārirādhayiṣuḥsimply desiring
  8. kṛṣṇamLord Kṛṣṇa
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “kindly”

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 pleasing Kṛṣṇa, rather than displaying discipline, the purpose of my practice?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra for five attentive minutes today with the intention of pleasing Kṛṣṇa.

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 1.2.8

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

Live this todayPlease Kṛṣṇa Through His Holy NameThis 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 4.23.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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