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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
4.24.414.24.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.42

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

नमस्त आशिषामीश मनवे कारणात्मने ।

नमो धर्माय बृहते कृष्णायाकुण्ठमेधसे ।

पुरुषाय पुराणाय साङ्ख्ययोगेश्वराय च ॥ ४२ ॥

namas ta āśiṣām īśa

manave kāraṇātmane

namo dharmāya bṛhate

kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase

puruṣāya purāṇāya

sāṅkhya-yogeśvarāya ca

Translation

My dear Lord, You are the topmost of all bestowers of all benediction, the oldest and supreme enjoyer amongst all enjoyers. You are the master of all the worlds’ metaphysical philosophy, for You are the supreme cause of all causes, Lord Kṛṣṇa. You are the greatest of all religious principles, the supreme mind, and You have a brain which is never checked by any condition. Therefore I repeatedly offer my obeisances unto You.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Cause of All Causes

  1. 1

    Our knowledge is limited by time and space, but Kṛṣṇa’s knowledge is unlimited. The Supreme Personality of Godhead knows the past, present and future, and we can know Him only by His favor.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the original cause of everything and the supreme bestower of benedictions. Anyone who gives blessings must first be blessed by Him.

  3. 3

    The real dharma is surrender unto Kṛṣṇa. Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra can deliver the conditioned soul from bondage.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa is also addressed herein as āśiṣām īśa.
  • In Brahma-saṁhitā Kṛṣṇa is described as the cause of all causes; therefore He is addressed herein as kāraṇātmane.
  • In Bhagavad-gītā, Lord Kṛṣṇa is also accepted as purāṇa-puruṣa, the oldest person.

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 4.24.42 quotesBG 7.26

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.26) the Lord says: “O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come.

The purport of SB 4.24.42 quotesSB 6.3.19

Since Kṛṣṇa is the original propounder of all kinds of religious principles, it is said, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam.

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. namaḥoffering obeisances
  2. teunto You
  3. āśiṣām īśaO topmost of all bestowers of benediction
  4. manaveunto the supreme mind or supreme Manu
  5. kāraṇa-ātmanethe supreme cause of all causes
  6. namaḥoffering obeisances
  7. dharmāyaunto one who knows the best of all religion
  8. bṛhatethe greatest
3

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”, “dharma”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophy”, “knowledge”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “blessings”, “favor”

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 might remembering Kṛṣṇa’s unlimited knowledge help me surrender to Him?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today, offering a prayer for Kṛṣṇa’s favor.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.24's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Cause of All CausesThis 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 4.24.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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