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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
4.24.734.24.75

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.74

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

अथेदं नित्यदा युक्तो जपन्नवहित: पुमान् ।

अचिराच्छ्रेय आप्नोति वासुदेवपरायण: ॥ ७४ ॥

athedaṁ nityadā yukto

japann avahitaḥ pumān

acirāc chreya āpnoti

vāsudeva-parāyaṇaḥ

Translation

A devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa whose mind is always absorbed in Him, who with great attention and reverence chants this stotra [prayer], will achieve the greatest perfection of life without delay.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Perfection Means Becoming Kṛṣṇa’s Devotee

  1. 1

    Perfection means becoming a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Vāsudeva, or Kṛṣṇa, is the ultimate goal of life.

  2. 2

    A devotee whose mind is absorbed in Kṛṣṇa and who chants this prayer with attention and reverence achieves life’s greatest perfection without delay.

  3. 3

    Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva offer prayers to Kṛṣṇa. Following their footsteps makes life successful; trying to adjust the external energy cannot bring satisfaction.

Key points from the purport
  • Perfection means becoming a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Both of these demigods are engaged in offering prayers to Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa.
  • Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: “They do not know that the real interest and the highest perfection of life is to worship Lord Viṣṇu [Kṛṣṇa].”

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· 4

The purport of SB 4.24.74 quotesSB 1.2.28-29

As stated in the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.28), vāsudeva-parā vedā vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ.

The purport of SB 4.24.74 quotesSB 11.5.33

Lord Kṛṣṇa is known as śiva-viriñci-nutam.

The purport of SB 4.24.74 quotesSB 7.5.31

Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: “They do not know that the real interest and the highest perfection of life is to worship Lord Viṣṇu [Kṛṣṇa].”

The purport of SB 4.24.74 quotesBG 7.19

To save living entities from such a calamity, Lord Kṛṣṇa points out in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19): “After many, many births and deaths, a wise man surrenders unto Me, knowing very well that I, Vāsudeva, am everything.

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. athathus
  2. idamthis
  3. nityadāregularly
  4. yuktaḥwith great attention
  5. japanby murmuring
  6. avahitaḥfully attentive
  7. pumāna person
  8. acirātwithout delay
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: “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chants”

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

Am I seeking satisfaction in changing external conditions or in becoming devoted to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Chant a portion of this prayer today with attention and reverence, keeping your mind on Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPerfection Means Becoming Kṛṣṇa’s DevoteeThis 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 4.24.74? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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