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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 3: Talks Between Lord Śiva and Satī
4.3.214.3.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.3.22

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Śivasince 4.3.19inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्रत्युद्गमप्रश्रयणाभिवादनं

विधीयते साधु मिथ: सुमध्यमे ।

प्राज्ञै: परस्मै पुरुषाय चेतसा

गुहाशयायैव न देहमानिने ॥ २२ ॥

pratyudgama-praśrayaṇābhivādanaṁ

vidhīyate sādhu mithaḥ sumadhyame

prājñaiḥ parasmai puruṣāya cetasā

guhā-śayāyaiva na deha-mānine

Translation

My dear young wife, certainly friends and relatives offer mutual greetings by standing up, welcoming one another and offering obeisances. But those who are elevated to the transcendental platform, being intelligent, offer such respects to the Supersoul, who is sitting within the body, not to the person who identifies with the body.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor the Lord Within Others

  1. 1

    An elevated person offers greetings and obeisances to the Supersoul within the heart, not to bodily identity.

  2. 2

    Among Vaiṣṇavas, a spiritual master returns a disciple’s obeisances because both offer respect to the Supersoul. A Vaiṣṇava sees the body as a temple of Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    Offering respect to a devotee is more valuable to the Lord than offering respect directly to Him. Lord Śiva had already honored the Supersoul in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so his respect to Dakṣa was already performed.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore the spiritual master also offers respect to the Supersoul situated in the body of the disciple.
  • It is stated also that, as a matter of etiquette, as soon as one sees a Vaiṣṇava one must immediately offer him respect, indicating the Supersoul sitting within.
  • Since Lord Śiva had already offered respect to the Supersoul in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, offering respect to Dakṣa, who identified with his body, was already performed.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Humiliation and anger → Reconciliation. Relational offense leads to grief and destruction before restoration.

Chapters 1–7 of Canto 4: Dakṣa, Satī and Śiva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Talks Between Lord Śiva and Satī

Satī wishes to attend her father’s sacrifice; Lord Śiva warns her about envy and hurtful words.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pratyudgamastanding up from one’s seat
  2. praśrayaṇawelcoming
  3. abhivādanamobeisances
  4. vidhīyateare intended
  5. sādhuproper
  6. mithaḥmutually
  7. su-madhyamemy dear young wife
  8. prājñaiḥby the wise
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 would remembering the Supersoul change the way I greet others?

Practice

When greeting someone today, consciously remember the Supersoul within that person’s heart.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor the Lord Within OthersThis 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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