1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.24.704.24.72

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.71

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

योगादेशमुपासाद्य धारयन्तो मुनिव्रता: ।

समाहितधिय: सर्व एतदभ्यसताद‍ृता: ॥ ७१ ॥

yogādeśam upāsādya

dhārayanto muni-vratāḥ

samāhita-dhiyaḥ sarva

etad abhyasatādṛtāḥ

Translation

My dear princes, in the form of a prayer I have delineated the yoga system of chanting the holy name. All of you should take this important stotra within your minds and promise to keep it in order to become great sages. By acting silently like a great sage and by giving attention and reverence, you should practice this method.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Practice Devotion With Attention and Reverence

  1. 1

    Bhakti-yoga is an ancient and accessible process, unlike the many demanding rules of haṭha-yoga. Kṛṣṇa describes the highest yogī as one who thinks of Him with faith and worships Him in loving service.

  2. 2

    The silence recommended here means speaking only of Kṛṣṇa rather than engaging in unnecessary talk. The mind should remain fixed on the Lord while speech glorifies Him.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva asks the princes to keep this prayer within their minds and practice with attention and reverence. Respectfully accepting and practicing the spiritual master’s instructions makes bhakti-yoga very easy.

Key points from the purport
  • The alternative system of bhakti-yoga is very easy not only in this age but in others as well, for this yoga system was advocated long ago by Lord Śiva when he advised the princes, the sons of Mahārāja Prācīnabarhiṣat.
  • The bhakti-yoga system is not newly introduced, for even five thousand years ago Lord Kṛṣṇa recommended this bhakti-yoga as the topmost yoga.
  • In other words, this system of bhakti-yoga has been existing from time immemorial and is now continuing in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.24.71 quotesBG 6.47

As Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā (6.47): “Of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.”

The purport of SB 4.24.71 quotesSB 9.4.18-20

“King Ambarīṣa always fixed his mind on the lotus feet of the Lord and talked of Him only.”

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. yoga-ādeśamthis instruction of bhakti-yoga
  2. upāsādyaconstantly reading
  3. dhārayantaḥand taking within the heart
  4. muni-vratāḥjust take the vow of the great sages, the vow of silence
  5. samāhitaalways fixed in the mind
  6. dhiyaḥwith intelligence
  7. sarveall of you
  8. etatthis
  9. abhyasatapractice
  10. ādṛtāḥwith great reverence
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”, “glorifies”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”, “worships”

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

Which unnecessary conversation could I replace with chanting or speaking about Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Today, replace a few minutes of unnecessary talk with attentive chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa.

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 todayPractice Devotion With Attention and ReverenceThis 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 4.24.71? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories