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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
4.24.664.24.68

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.67

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

कस्त्वत्पदाब्जं विजहाति पण्डितो

यस्तेऽवमानव्ययमानकेतन: ।

विशङ्कयास्मद्गुरुरर्चति स्म यद्

विनोपपत्तिं मनवश्चतुर्दश ॥ ६७ ॥

kas tvat-padābjaṁ vijahāti paṇḍito

yas te ’vamāna-vyayamāna-ketanaḥ

viśaṅkayāsmad-gurur arcati sma yad

vinopapattiṁ manavaś caturdaśa

Translation

My dear Lord, any learned person knows that unless he worships You, his entire life is spoiled. Knowing this, how could he give up worshiping Your lotus feet? Even our father and spiritual master, Lord Brahmā, unhesitatingly worshiped You, and the fourteen Manus followed in his footsteps.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Wisdom Leads to Devotional Service

  1. 1

    A truly wise person surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knowing Him to be everything. Such a person understands that life is wasted without worshiping Him.

  2. 2

    An advanced devotee does not waste time, seeks no material respect, and eagerly chants and hears the Lord’s glories. He remains confident of Kṛṣṇa’s mercy and eager to serve Him.

  3. 3

    Even Lord Brahmā and the Manus engage in devotional service despite their very long lives. With our short lives, we should follow their example and continue chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa with humility and tolerance.

Key points from the purport
  • An advanced devotee, or a perfect human being who is actually wise and learned, cannot give up his service at the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • Although the Manus have such a long life span, they still prepare for the next life by engaging in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • One should thus engage in the devotional service of the Lord and follow in the footsteps of previous ācāryas, beginning with Lord Brahmā and others.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.24.67 quotesBG 7.19

The wise man is described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19) in this way: “After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is.

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. kaḥwho
  2. tvatYour
  3. pada-abjamlotus feet
  4. vijahātiavoids
  5. paṇḍitaḥlearned
  6. yaḥwho
  7. teunto You
  8. avamānaderiding
3

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worships”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “father”

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 could I use a little more of my time in the Lord’s service rather than seeking material respect?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa attentively, with a humble desire to serve.

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 todayTrue Wisdom Leads to 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 4.24.67? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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