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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

4.23.8 4.23.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.9

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

सनत्कुमारो भगवान् यदाहाध्यात्मिकं परम् ।

योगं तेनैव पुरुषमभजत्पुरुषर्षभ: ॥ ९ ॥

sanat-kumāro bhagavān

yad āhādhyātmikaṁ param

yogaṁ tenaiva puruṣam

abhajat puruṣarṣabhaḥ

Translation

Thus the best amongst human beings, Mahārāja Pṛthu, followed that path of spiritual advancement which was advised by Sanat-kumāra. That is to say, he worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Living Entity Serves the Supreme Person

1
Following Sanat-kumāra’s advice, Mahārāja Pṛthu worshiped Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The best among human beings engages in the service of the Supreme Person.
2
The living entity is the worshiper, and the Supreme Person is worshipable. They never lose their respective identities; thinking of becoming one with the Supreme leads to bewilderment.
3
Devotional service is never a material activity and continues in both this life and the next. By faithfully following the spiritual master’s instructions and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, a devotee need not practice another yoga to reach the spiritual platform.

Key points from the purport

In this verse it is clearly said that Mahārāja Pṛthu, practicing the prāṇāyāma-yoga system, engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as advised by the saint Sanat-kumāra.
Puruṣarṣabha refers to Mahārāja Pṛthu, the best amongst human beings, and puruṣam refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In this life a neophyte devotee is trained to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in the next life he approaches that Supreme Person in Vaikuṇṭha and renders the same devotional service.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.23.9 quotesBG 2.12

As stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (2.12), all living entities assembled in the battlefield, as well as Kṛṣṇa Himself, were also present in the past as individuals and would continue to be present in the future as individuals also.

The purport of SB 4.23.9 quotesBG 14.26

If the devotee adheres strictly to the orders of the spiritual master, follows the rules and regulations and chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, it should be concluded that he is already at the brahma-bhūta stage, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): “One who is engaged in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature…

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

sanat-kumāraḥSanat-kumāra
bhagavānmost powerful
yatthat which
āhasaid
ādhyātmikamspiritual advancement of life
paramultimate
yogammysticism
tenaby that

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: “worshiped”, “devotional service”, “devotee”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.23
In this verse: “material”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.23
In this verse: “chanting”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does understanding myself as Kṛṣṇa’s servant shape my purpose in spiritual life?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra with the intention of serving Kṛṣṇa.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Living Entity Serves the Supreme PersonThis 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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