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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
4.3.224.3.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.3.23

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

सत्त्वं विशुद्धं वसुदेवशब्दितं

यदीयते तत्र पुमानपावृत: ।

सत्त्वे च तस्मिन्भगवान्वासुदेवो

ह्यधोक्षजो मे नमसा विधीयते ॥ २३ ॥

sattvaṁ viśuddhaṁ vasudeva-śabditaṁ

yad īyate tatra pumān apāvṛtaḥ

sattve ca tasmin bhagavān vāsudevo

hy adhokṣajo me namasā vidhīyate

Translation

I am always engaged in offering obeisances to Lord Vāsudeva in pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is always pure consciousness, in which the Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Vāsudeva, is revealed without any covering.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotional Service Reveals Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The soul is constitutionally pure; identifying the body with the soul is a misunderstanding. Pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness restores one to the original position, beyond the material qualities.

  2. 2

    In pure devotional service, one serves without seeking material profit and without being stopped by material conditions. In this pure state, called vasudeva, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is revealed in the heart.

  3. 3

    Hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa cleanse the heart and mind, like cleaning a mirror. Lord Śiva always offers obeisances to Vāsudeva because his heart is filled with the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse explains that the pure state is called vasudeva because in that state Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is revealed without any covering.
  • One cannot realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by the attempt of one’s speculative mind, but if one desires he can subdue all the material activities of his senses, and the Lord, by manifesting His spiritual energy, can reveal Himself to the pure devotee.
  • When the Supreme Personality of Godhead reveals Himself to the pure devotee, the devotee has no other duty than to offer Him respectful obeisances.

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· 5

The purport of SB 4.3.23 quotesBG 14.26

Bhagavad-gītā (14.26) also confirms that anyone who engages in unadulterated devotional service to the Lord is at once elevated to the position of pure Brahman: Therefore śuddha-sattva, as described in this verse, is the transcendental position, which is technically called vasudeva.

The purport of SB 4.3.23 quotesBG 7.19

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.19) it is also stated, vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti.

The purport of SB 4.3.23 quotesBG 8.8

It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (8.8), abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena.

The purport of SB 4.3.23 quotesBG 4.6

It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.6), sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.3.20

Sattvaṁ viśuddhaṁ vasudeva-śabditam. That is the platform of vasudeva, whereby the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, can be experienced.

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

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sattvamconsciousness
  2. viśuddhampure
  3. vasudevaVasudeva
  4. śabditamknown as
  5. yatbecause
  6. īyateis revealed
  7. tatrathere
  8. pumānthe Supreme Person
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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 4.3

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.3

    In this verse: “cleanse”

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 can I make my devotional service less dependent on receiving something in return?

Practice

Spend five minutes hearing or chanting about Kṛṣṇa, gently keeping your attention on Him rather than on material gain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 13 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 13 lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayPure Devotional Service Reveals KṛṣṇaThis 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 4.3.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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