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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
4.24.674.24.69

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.68

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

अथ त्वमसि नो ब्रह्मन् परमात्मन् विपश्चिताम् ।

विश्वं रुद्रभयध्वस्तमकुतश्चिद्भया गति: ॥ ६८ ॥

atha tvam asi no brahman

paramātman vipaścitām

viśvaṁ rudra-bhaya-dhvastam

akutaścid-bhayā gatiḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, all actually learned persons know You as the Supreme Brahman and the Supersoul. Although the entire universe is afraid of Lord Rudra, who ultimately annihilates everything, for the learned devotees You are the fearless destination of all.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Our Fearless Shelter

  1. 1

    Both the universe and the individual material body are subject to annihilation. Learned devotees know the Lord as the Supreme Brahman, the Supersoul, and their fearless destination.

  2. 2

    One who strictly follows devotional service need not fear death, being confident of returning home, back to Godhead. The devotee’s security rests in the Lord’s protection, not in preserving the material body.

  3. 3

    Although Rudra brings fear through destruction, a devotee is secure at the Lord’s lotus feet. Śrī Kṛṣṇa assures that His pure devotee will not be vanquished.

Key points from the purport
  • The word rudra-bhaya is significant in this verse because Rudra himself, Lord Śiva, is speaking of “fear of Rudra.”
  • The conclusion is that one Rudra is afraid of another Rudra because each and every one of them is engaged in the destruction of this cosmic manifestation.
  • A devotee is never afraid of Rudra because he is always secure, being protected by the lotus feet of 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· 1

The purport of SB 4.24.68 quotesBG 9.31

As Śrī Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.31), kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati: “My dear Arjuna, you may declare publicly that My pure devotee will not be vanquished under any circumstances.”

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. athatherefore
  2. tvamYou, my Lord
  3. asiare
  4. naḥour
  5. brahmanO Supreme Brahman
  6. parama-ātmanO Supersoul
  7. vipaścitāmfor the learned, wise men
  8. viśvamthe whole universe
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “fearless”, “afraid”, “death”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • 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

Where am I seeking security, and how can I deepen my trust in the Lord’s protection?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to remember Kṛṣṇa’s assurance that His pure devotee will not be vanquished.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Our Fearless ShelterThis 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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