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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
4.24.754.24.77

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.76

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

य इमं श्रद्धया युक्तो मद्गीतं भगवत्स्तवम् ।

अधीयानो दुराराध्यं हरिमाराधयत्यसौ ॥ ७६ ॥

ya imaṁ śraddhayā yukto

mad-gītaṁ bhagavat-stavam

adhīyāno durārādhyaṁ

harim ārādhayaty asau

Translation

Although rendering devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and worshiping Him are very difficult, if one vibrates or simply reads this stotra [prayer] composed and sung by me, he will very easily be able to invoke the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Pure Devotees to Receive Mercy

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva is a pure devotee of Lord Vāsudeva and the topmost among Vaiṣṇavas. His Vaiṣṇava disciplic succession is called the Rudra sampradāya.

  2. 2

    Becoming a devotee of Kṛṣṇa is very difficult, yet reading or reciting this prayer can easily invoke the Lord’s mercy. Following the principles and footsteps of higher authorities makes devotion accessible.

  3. 3

    Devotional service cannot be attained through mental speculation. It is a special attainment available to one who surrenders to a pure devotee free from material contamination.

Key points from the purport
  • It is especially significant that Lord Śiva is a pure devotee of Lord Vāsudeva.
  • To become a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, is very, very difficult.
  • However, if one adheres to the principles and follows in the footsteps of the higher authorities, as advised by Lord Śiva, one can easily become a devotee of Lord Vāsudeva.

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 4.24.76 quotesSB 7.5.32

As confirmed by Prahlāda Mahārāja, mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat: “Unless one accepts the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee, who is free from all material contamination, one cannot enter into the devotional service of the Lord.”

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. yaḥanyone
  2. imamthis
  3. śraddhayāwith great faith
  4. yuktaḥdevoutly attached
  5. mat-gītamthe song composed by me or sung by me
  6. bhagavat-stavama prayer offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. adhīyānaḥby regular study
  8. durārādhyamvery difficult to worship
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • 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

Am I willing to receive guidance from pure devotees rather than rely only on my own speculation?

Practice

Read a portion of Lord Śiva’s prayer today with a humble desire to follow his devotional guidance.

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 todayFollow Pure Devotees to Receive MercyThis 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 4.24.76? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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