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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
4.24.584.24.60

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.59

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

न यस्य चित्तं बहिरर्थविभ्रमं

तमोगुहायां च विशुद्धमाविशत् ।

यद्भक्तियोगानुगृहीतमञ्जसा

मुनिर्विचष्टे ननु तत्र ते गतिम् ॥ ५९ ॥

na yasya cittaṁ bahir-artha-vibhramaṁ

tamo-guhāyāṁ ca viśuddham āviśat

yad-bhakti-yogānugṛhītam añjasā

munir vicaṣṭe nanu tatra te gatim

Translation

The devotee whose heart has been completely cleansed by the process of devotional service and who is favored by Bhaktidevī does not become bewildered by the external energy, which is just like a dark well. Being completely cleansed of all material contamination in this way, a devotee is able to understand very happily Your name, fame, form, activities, etc.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Pure Heart Understands the Lord

  1. 1

    Association with pure devotees advances one in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This association means chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and acting for Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names cleanses the mirror of the heart. A purified devotee sees things in relation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead rather than trying to dominate material nature.

  3. 3

    Devotional service must be practiced while avoiding offenses in chanting and worship. When the heart is purified, the Lord reveals His transcendental name, form and activities.

Key points from the purport
  • Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam: by chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa, the mirror of the heart is cleansed, and the devotee loses interest in everything external.
  • The pure heart of a devotee is never disturbed when he executes devotional service in the form of hearing, chanting, remembering, etc. In all, there are nine processes one can follow in the execution of devotional service.
  • The conclusion is that when one’s heart is purified by the association of devotees and by the avoidance of the offenses committed when chanting and worshiping the Lord, the transcendental name, form and activities of the Lord are revealed by the Lord.

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· 3

The purport of SB 4.24.59 quotesSB 3.25.25

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.25): Simply by the association of pure devotees one can understand the transcendental name, fame, quality and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The purport of SB 4.24.59 quotesCC Madhya 22.54

lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya. Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes wonderfully advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

The purport of SB 4.24.59 quotesSB 1.5.20

Idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaraḥ. He whose heart is purified can see that the whole cosmic manifestation is but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but he whose heart is contaminated sees things differently.

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. nanever
  2. yasyawhose
  3. cittamheart
  4. bahiḥexternal
  5. arthainterest
  6. vibhramambewildered
  7. tamaḥdarkness
  8. guhāyāmin the hole
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”, “bhaktidevī”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

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

  • 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 can I give more thoughtful attention to chanting rather than to external distractions?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.24's connections

Live this todayA Pure Heart Understands 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.24.59? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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