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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
4.24.224.24.24-25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.23

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

तत्र गान्धर्वमाकर्ण्य दिव्यमार्गमनोहरम् ।

विसिस्म्यू राजपुत्रास्ते मृदङ्गपणवाद्यनु ॥ २३ ॥

tatra gāndharvam ākarṇya

divya-mārga-manoharam

visismyū rāja-putrās te

mṛdaṅga-paṇavādy anu

Translation

The sons of the King became very much amazed when they heard vibrations from various drums and kettledrums along with other orderly musical sounds pleasing to the ear.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Bliss Is Full of Variety

  1. 1

    The princes were amazed by pleasing, orderly musical sounds, including drums and kettledrums. These sounds added to the flowers and living beings around the lake.

  2. 2

    The purport contrasts this beautiful variety with the void of the impersonalists. Perfection means attaining sac-cid-ānanda—eternity, bliss and knowledge—not denying variety.

  3. 3

    The Pracetās had arrived at Lord Śiva’s abode, which is never without variety. The abodes of Lord Śiva, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Brahmā contain variety for persons full in knowledge and bliss.

Key points from the purport
  • In addition to the various flowers and living entities about the lake, there were also many musical vibrations.
  • Impersonalists are generally worshipers of Lord Śiva, but Lord Śiva is never without variety in his abode.
  • Thus wherever one goes, whether to the planet of Lord Śiva, Lord Viṣṇu or Lord Brahmā, there is variety to be enjoyed by persons full in knowledge and bliss.

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. tatrathere
  2. gāndharvammusical sounds
  3. ākarṇyahearing
  4. divyaheavenly
  5. mārgasymmetrical
  6. manaḥ-harambeautiful
  7. visismyuḥthey became amazed
  8. rāja-putrāḥall the sons of King Barhiṣat
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “king”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Do I think of spiritual perfection as emptiness, or as life full of knowledge and bliss?

Practice

Write one sentence describing how this verse presents spiritual bliss as full of variety rather than empty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Bliss Is Full of VarietyThis 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 4.24.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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