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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.61

Who is speaking and story frame

यो माययेदं पुरुरूपयासृजद्

बिभर्ति भूय: क्षपयत्यविक्रिय: ।

यद्भेदबुद्धि: सदिवात्मदु:स्थया

त्वमात्मतन्त्रं भगवन् प्रतीमहि ॥ ६१ ॥

yo māyayedaṁ puru-rūpayāsṛjad

bibharti bhūyaḥ kṣapayaty avikriyaḥ

yad-bheda-buddhiḥ sad ivātma-duḥsthayā

tvam ātma-tantraṁ bhagavan pratīmahi

Translation

My dear Lord, You have manifold energies, and these energies are manifested in manifold forms. With such energies You have also created this cosmic manifestation, and although You maintain it as if it were permanent, You ultimately annihilate it. Although You are never disturbed by such changes and alterations, the living entities are disturbed by them, and therefore they find the cosmic manifestation to be different or separated from You. My Lord, You are always independent, and I can clearly see this fact.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use the Lord’s Energies in His Service

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa’s many energies are grouped as external, internal and marginal. He creates, maintains and destroys the cosmic manifestation without Himself being changed or disturbed.

  2. 2

    The conditioned soul forgets the Lord and tries to enjoy independently. This false idea of separation makes material energy troublesome, although it never troubles the independent Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    A devotee knows how to use material energy in the Lord’s service and therefore finds no disturbance in it. Material existence means forgetfulness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • However, some living entities are conditioned in this material world, and thus they think themselves separated from the Supreme Lord.
  • This material energy is therefore very much troublesome to the spiritual energy, the living entity, but the material energy is never troublesome to the Supreme Lord.
  • The Supreme Lord is always independent, but because the living entities are not independent — due to their false idea of becoming independently happy — the material energy is troublesome.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥone who
  2. māyayāby His energy
  3. idamthis
  4. purumanifold
  5. rūpayāmanifestation
  6. asṛjatcreated
  7. bibhartimaintains
  8. bhūyaḥagain
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “separated”, “separation”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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

What could I use in the Lord’s service instead of treating it as something for my independent enjoyment?

Practice

Use a few minutes of your time today for the Lord’s service, consciously remembering that this energy belongs to Him.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse the Lord’s Energies in His 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 4.24.61? Get an answer from the verses themselves.