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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 24: Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Śiva
4.24.184.24.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.19

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.24.19inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

प्रचेतस: पितुर्वाक्यं शिरसादाय साधव: ।

दिशं प्रतीचीं प्रययुस्तपस्याद‍ृतचेतस: ॥ १९ ॥

maitreya uvāca

pracetasaḥ pitur vākyaṁ

śirasādāya sādhavaḥ

diśaṁ pratīcīṁ prayayus

tapasy ādṛta-cetasaḥ

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, because of their pious nature, all the sons of Prācīnabarhi very seriously accepted the words of their father with heart and soul, and with these words on their heads, they went toward the west to execute their father’s order.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Accept Guidance Toward Pure Devotion

  1. 1

    A perfect sādhu is always engaged in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The sons of Prācīnabarhi are called sādhavaḥ because of their complete obedience to their father.

  2. 2

    The father, king and spiritual master are supposed to represent the Supreme Lord. Their duty is to guide those under their care toward becoming fully unalloyed devotees.

  3. 3

    The Pracetās accepted their father’s words with heart and soul. Carrying his orders “on their heads” means accepting them in complete surrender.

Key points from the purport
  • Prācīnabarhi’s sons are described as sādhavaḥ because of their complete obedience to their father.
  • The father, king and spiritual master are supposed to be representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such they have to be respected as the Supreme Lord.
  • The word śirasā, “on their heads,” is also significant, for the Pracetās accepted the orders of their father and carried them on their heads, which means they accepted them in complete surrender.

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

Worldly absorption → Sobering awareness. The mind's identification with material life becomes visible.

Chapters 24–29 of Canto 4: Śiva's song and the allegory of Purañjana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Śiva

Lord Śiva mercifully teaches the Pracetās prayers glorifying the Supreme Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya continued to speak
  2. pracetasaḥall the sons of King Prācīnabarhi
  3. pituḥof the father
  4. vākyamwords
  5. śirasāon the head
  6. ādāyaaccepting
  7. sādhavaḥall pious
  8. diśamdirection
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “father”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “duty”

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 sincerely do I accept guidance that leads me toward devotional service?

Practice

Choose one instruction you have received about devotional service and carefully put it into practice today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAccept Guidance Toward Pure 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 4.24.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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