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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
4.24.574.24.59

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.58

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

अथानघाङ्‌घ्रेस्तव कीर्तितीर्थयो-

रन्तर्बहि:स्‍नानविधूतपाप्मनाम् ।

भूतेष्वनुक्रोशसुसत्त्वशीलिनां

स्यात्सङ्गमोऽनुग्रह एष नस्तव ॥ ५८ ॥

athānaghāṅghres tava kīrti-tīrthayor

antar-bahiḥ-snāna-vidhūta-pāpmanām

bhūteṣv anukrośa-susattva-śīlināṁ

syāt saṅgamo ’nugraha eṣa nas tava

Translation

My dear Lord, Your lotus feet are the cause of all auspicious things and the destroyer of all the contamination of sin. I therefore beg Your Lordship to bless me by the association of Your devotees, who are completely purified by worshiping Your lotus feet and who are so merciful upon the conditioned souls. I think that Your real benediction will be to allow me to associate with such devotees.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Blessing of Devotee Association

  1. 1

    The Ganges purifies because its water emanates from the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Devotees absorbed in His service and glorification are likewise freed from material contamination.

  2. 2

    Pure devotees show mercy by preaching the Lord’s glories and bringing conditioned souls to śuddha-sattva. This pure goodness is beyond material goodness.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva asks for association with these merciful devotees as the Lord’s real benediction. His prayers teach us to take shelter of Lord Viṣṇu and His Vaiṣṇava devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • The Ganges water is celebrated in this way because it emanates from the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Similarly, those who are directly in touch with the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and who are absorbed in the chanting of His glories are freed from all material contamination.
  • In other words, it is the business of devotees to preach the glories of the Lord and deliver all conditioned souls to the platform of śuddha-sattva, pure goodness.

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. athatherefore
  2. anagha-aṅghreḥof my Lord, whose lotus feet destroy all inauspiciousness
  3. tavaYour
  4. kīrtiglorification
  5. tīrthayoḥthe holy Ganges water
  6. antaḥwithin
  7. bahiḥand outside
  8. snānataking bath
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “merciful”, “bless”, “mercy”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “purified”, “contamination”, “purifies”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worshiping”

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 I value association with devotees as a blessing rather than something ordinary?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking the Lord for the association of His pure devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek the Blessing of Devotee AssociationThis 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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