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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
4.24.534.24.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.54

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

भवान् भक्तिमता लभ्यो दुर्लभ: सर्वदेहिनाम् ।

स्वाराज्यस्याप्यभिमत एकान्तेनात्मविद्गति: ॥ ५४ ॥

bhavān bhaktimatā labhyo

durlabhaḥ sarva-dehinām

svārājyasyāpy abhimata

ekāntenātma-vid-gatiḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, the king in charge of the heavenly kingdom is also desirous of obtaining the ultimate goal of life — devotional service. Similarly, You are the ultimate destination of those who identify themselves with You [ahaṁ brahmāsmi]. However, it is very difficult for them to attain You, whereas a devotee can very easily attain Your Lordship.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Leads to Life’s Highest Perfection

  1. 1

    The supreme destination is difficult to attain simply by studying Vedānta philosophy or Vedic literature. Devotees, however, can attain it very easily through bhakti-yoga.

  2. 2

    Even Indra, the ruler of heaven, desires perfection in devotional service. Heavenly elevation and realizing oneself as Brahman are not the end of realization.

  3. 3

    Only devotional service enables one to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is. Through this understanding, one can enter the spiritual kingdom and attain real perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • Those who identify themselves as ahaṁ brahmāsmi (“I am the Supreme Brahman, one with the Absolute Truth”) also ultimately desire to attain perfect liberation in the Vaikuṇṭha planets or Goloka Vṛndāvana.
  • Simply by practicing bhakti-yoga one can understand the Supreme Lord in truth, but without such understanding, one cannot enter the spiritual kingdom.
  • One must realize the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by bhakti-yoga; then real perfection of life is attained.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.24.54 quotesBG 18.55

In Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) it is said: “One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service.

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. bhavānYour Grace
  2. bhakti-matāby the devotee
  3. labhyaḥobtainable
  4. durlabhaḥvery difficult to be obtained
  5. sarva-dehināmof all other living entities
  6. svārājyasyaof the King of heaven
  7. apieven
  8. abhimataḥthe ultimate goal
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: “devotional service”, “devotee”, “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”, “ruler”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophy”, “understand”

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

Does your idea of spiritual success center on understanding and serving the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Before your spiritual reading today, pause and make understanding the Lord through devotion your purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Leads to Life’s Highest PerfectionThis 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 4.24.54? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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