1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.24.554.24.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.56

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

यत्र निर्विष्टमरणं कृतान्तो नाभिमन्यते ।

विश्वं विध्वंसयन् वीर्यशौर्यविस्फूर्जितभ्रुवा ॥ ५६ ॥

yatra nirviṣṭam araṇaṁ

kṛtānto nābhimanyate

viśvaṁ vidhvaṁsayan vīrya-

śaurya-visphūrjita-bhruvā

Translation

Simply by expansion of His eyebrows, invincible time personified can immediately vanquish the entire universe. However, formidable time does not approach the devotee who has taken complete shelter at Your lotus feet.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Time Cannot Destroy Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Everything in the material world perishes in time, and death takes away a person’s possessions. But time cannot destroy the devotional service of one who takes shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.

  2. 2

    Material success and impersonal realization without devotional service do not guarantee lasting liberation. A devotee’s spiritual achievement, however, is never lost.

  3. 3

    Even incomplete devotional service continues from where it was left off in the next life. The devotee receives another opportunity to progress, because these spiritual assets remain beyond time’s influence.

Key points from the purport
  • However, all the strength of time cannot hamper the activities of a devotee, for a devotee takes complete shelter under the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • All the activities of the karmīs and jñānīs, which have no touch of devotional service, are spoiled in due course of time.
  • In other words, devotional service which is rendered by the devotee in this lifetime can never be destroyed by time.

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 4.24.56 quotesBG 10.34

In Bhagavad-gītā (10.34) it is said that the Lord in the shape and form of death destroys all a person’s possessions.

The purport of SB 4.24.56 quotesSB 10.2.32

patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ. To say nothing of the karmīs, the jñānīs undergo severe austerities to attain the impersonal brahmajyoti, but because they do not find the lotus feet of the Lord, they fall down again into this material existence.

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. yatrawherein
  2. nirviṣṭam araṇama completely surrendered soul
  3. kṛta-antaḥinvincible time
  4. na abhimanyatedoes not go to attack
  5. viśvamthe entire universe
  6. vidhvaṁsayanby vanquishing
  7. vīryaprowess
  8. śauryainfluence
  9. visphūrjitasimply by expansion
  10. bhruvāof the eyebrows
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotional service”, “devotee’s”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • 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 devotional service is never lost affect what you value today?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for devotional service, remembering that even a small sincere effort is not destroyed by time.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTime Cannot Destroy Devotional ServiceThis 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 4.24.56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories