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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
4.24.544.24.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.55

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

तं दुराराध्यमाराध्य सतामपि दुरापया ।

एकान्तभक्त्या को वाञ्छेत्पादमूलं विना बहि: ॥ ५५ ॥

taṁ durārādhyam ārādhya

satām api durāpayā

ekānta-bhaktyā ko vāñchet

pāda-mūlaṁ vinā bahiḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, pure devotional service is even difficult for liberated persons to discharge, but devotional service alone can satisfy You. Who will take to other processes of self-realization if he is actually serious about the perfection of life?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Alone Satisfies the Lord

  1. 1

    Pure devotional service is difficult even for liberated persons to discharge. Yet devotional service alone satisfies the Lord.

  2. 2

    Among the jñānī, yogī and bhakta, the bhakta is the most suitable candidate to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s mercy cannot be obtained by a process apart from bhakti-yoga. One serious about life’s perfection therefore seeks shelter at His lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • It is emphasized herein that only one who is outside devotional service would not engage in searching for the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • Foolish people sometimes maintain that God may be attained in any way — either by karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga, dhyāna-yoga, etc. — but here it is clearly stated that it is impossible to obtain the mercy of the Lord by any means but bhakti-yoga.
  • It is very difficult to attain the lotus feet of the Lord by any method other than bhakti-yoga.

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. tamunto You
  2. durārādhyamvery difficult to worship
  3. ārādhyahaving worshiped
  4. satām apieven for the most exalted persons
  5. durāpayāvery difficult to attain
  6. ekāntapure
  7. bhaktyāby devotional service
  8. kaḥwho is that man
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”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “shelter”

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

Is pleasing the Lord becoming the purpose of your spiritual practice?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking to seek the Lord’s lotus feet through pure devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Alone Satisfies the LordThis 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.

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