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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
4.24.344.24.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.35

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.24.32inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Śiva → the Pracetās

सङ्कर्षणाय सूक्ष्माय दुरन्तायान्तकाय च ।

नमो विश्वप्रबोधाय प्रद्युम्नायान्तरात्मने ॥ ३५ ॥

saṅkarṣaṇāya sūkṣmāya

durantāyāntakāya ca

namo viśva-prabodhāya

pradyumnāyāntar-ātmane

Translation

My dear Lord, You are the origin of the subtle material ingredients, the master of all integration as well as the master of all disintegration, the predominating Deity named Saṅkarṣaṇa, and the master of all intelligence, known as the predominating Deity Pradyumna. Therefore, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Maintains Gross and Subtle Elements

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord maintains the universe through His integrating power as Saṅkarṣaṇa. He is also the master of disintegration, able to destroy the world through His energy.

  2. 2

    Pradyumna, another feature of Lord Vāsudeva, is responsible for universal growth and maintenance. He is also the master of intelligence.

  3. 3

    Earth, water, fire, air and ether are gross material elements; mind, intelligence and ego are subtle elements. The Supreme Personality of Godhead controls and maintains them through His different features.

Key points from the purport
  • Saṅkarṣaṇa is the master of integration and disintegration, whereas Pradyumna, another feature of Lord Vāsudeva, is responsible for universal growth and maintenance.
  • The Lord in His different features — Vāsudeva, Aniruddha, Pradyumna and Saṅkarṣaṇa — maintains both the gross and subtle material elements of this world.
  • As mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā, the gross material elements are earth, water, fire, air and ether, and the subtle material elements are mind, intelligence and ego.

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. saṅkarṣaṇāyaunto the master of integration
  2. sūkṣmāyaunto the subtle unmanifested material ingredients
  3. durantāyaunto the unsurpassable
  4. antakāyaunto the master of disintegration
  5. caalso
  6. namaḥobeisances
  7. viśva-prabodhāyaunto the master of the development of the universe
  8. pradyumnāyaunto Lord Pradyumna
  9. antaḥ-ātmaneunto the Supersoul in everyone’s heart
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “material”

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 does knowing that the Lord maintains both body and mind deepen my respect for Him?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to the Lord, acknowledging His control over your body, mind and intelligence.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Maintains Gross and Subtle ElementsThis 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 4.24.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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