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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
4.24.524.24.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.53

Mukti· Liberation
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

एतद्रूपमनुध्येयमात्मशुद्धिमभीप्सताम् ।

यद्भक्तियोगोऽभयद: स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठताम् ॥ ५३ ॥

etad rūpam anudhyeyam

ātma-śuddhim abhīpsatām

yad-bhakti-yogo ’bhayadaḥ

sva-dharmam anutiṣṭhatām

Translation

My dear Lord, those who desire to purify their existence must always engage in meditation upon Your lotus feet, as described above. Those who are serious about executing their occupational duties and who want freedom from fear must take to this process of bhakti-yoga.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify Your Senses Through Bhakti-yoga

  1. 1

    Material senses cannot appreciate the Lord’s transcendental name, form, pastimes and entourage. Devotional service and meditation on His lotus feet purify the senses so that one can see Him.

  2. 2

    Occupational duties alone cannot make one fearless or guarantee liberation. They must be accompanied by bhakti-yoga, the means of attaining life’s highest perfection.

  3. 3

    Whatever one’s position in life, bhakti-yoga begins with submissively hearing the Lord’s messages from a realized soul. Through this process, a devotee can conquer the unconquerable Supreme Personality of Godhead and become His associate.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva therefore advises that one who is actually serious about purification must engage himself in this type of meditation or in the mystic yoga system, which will help him not only to see the Lord within constantly but to see Him face to face and become His associate in Vaikuṇṭhaloka or Goloka Vṛndāvana.
  • Lord Caitanya wanted to impress upon Rāmānanda Rāya that simply by executing the duties of varṇāśrama-dharma one is not guaranteed liberation.
  • The conclusion is that if one is serious about liberation, he not only should execute the occupational duties of varṇāśrama-dharma but should also engage in bhakti-yoga by beginning hearing from a realized soul.

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 4.24.53 quotesSB 12.13.1

However, from Vedic literature we learn that the yogīs are always absorbed in meditation upon the lotus feet of the Lord: dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ.

The purport of SB 4.24.53 quotesSB 10.14.3

Finally Rāmānanda Rāya referred to the process of bhakti-yoga: sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ.

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. etatthis
  2. rūpamform
  3. anudhyeyammust be meditated upon
  4. ātmaself
  5. śuddhimpurification
  6. abhīpsatāmof those who are desiring so
  7. yatthat which
  8. bhakti-yogaḥthe devotional service
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “fear”, “fearless”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

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 can you make room for devotional hearing alongside your daily duties?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s purport attentively, with a willingness to learn.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurify Your Senses Through Bhakti-yogaThis 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 4.24.53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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