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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
4.24.194.24.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.20

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

ससमुद्रमुप विस्तीर्णमपश्यन् सुमहत्सर: ।

महन्मन इव स्वच्छं प्रसन्नसलिलाशयम् ॥ २० ॥

sa-samudram upa vistīrṇam

apaśyan sumahat saraḥ

mahan-mana iva svacchaṁ

prasanna-salilāśayam

Translation

While traveling, the Pracetās happened to see a great reservoir of water which seemed almost as big as the ocean. The water of this lake was so calm and quiet that it seemed like the mind of a great soul, and its inhabitants, the aquatics, appeared very peaceful and happy to be under the protection of such a watery reservoir.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Brings a Peaceful Mind

  1. 1

    The clear, quiet lake resembled the mind of a great devotee. A pure devotee fully surrendered to the Lord is very rarely found.

  2. 2

    A devotee’s mind is calm because there is no desire other than to serve Kṛṣṇa. Through association with Kṛṣṇa, the devotee remains satisfied in any condition of life.

  3. 3

    The peaceful aquatics resembled disciples sheltered by a great devotee. Those fixed in the Lord’s service are not shaken even by reversals in life.

Key points from the purport
  • Because the disciples of a devotee have taken shelter of a great soul, they become very calm and quiet and are not agitated by the waves of the material world.
  • The mind of a great devotee is also like an ocean or a very large lake, but there is no agitation.
  • Consequently, the word mahan-manaḥ is used in this verse to indicate that the reservoir of water was as calm and quiet as the mind of a great devotee.

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 4.24.20 quotesBG 7.19

One can find many great souls amongst yogīs and jñānīs, but a truly great soul, a pure devotee of the Lord, who is fully surrendered to the Lord, is very rarely found (sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ, Bg. 7.19).

The purport of SB 4.24.20 quotesBG 2.41

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.41), vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana: those who are fixed in the service of the Lord are not agitated by anything.

The purport of SB 4.24.20 quotesBG 6.22

It is also stated in Bhagavad-gītā (6.22), yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate: even if he suffers some reversals in life, a devotee is never agitated.

The purport of SB 4.24.20 quotesCC Madhya 19.149

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 19.149) it is stated, kṛṣṇa-bhakta — niṣkāma, ataeva ‘śānta’: a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is always peaceful because he has no desire, whereas the yogīs, karmīs and jñānīs have so many desires to fulfill.

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

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. sa-samudramalmost near the ocean
  2. upamore or less
  3. vistīrṇamvery wide and long
  4. apaśyanthey saw
  5. su-mahatvery great
  6. saraḥreservoir of water
  7. mahatgreat soul
  8. manaḥmind
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “protection”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “surrendered”, “sheltered”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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

Which desires disturb my mind, and how could I turn my attention toward serving Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

When one worry arises today, pause and choose one small act of service to Kṛṣṇa rather than dwelling on the worry.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Brings a Peaceful 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 4.24.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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