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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 30: The Activities of the Pracetās
4.30.154.30.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Lordsince 4.30.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अपृथग्धर्मशीलानां सर्वेषां व: सुमध्यमा ।

अपृथग्धर्मशीलेयं भूयात्पत्‍न्यर्पिताशया ॥ १६ ॥

apṛthag-dharma-śīlānāṁ

sarveṣāṁ vaḥ sumadhyamā

apṛthag-dharma-śīleyaṁ

bhūyāt patny arpitāśayā

Translation

You brothers are all of the same nature, being My devotees and obedient sons of your father. Similarly, that girl is also of the same type and is dedicated to all of you. Thus both the girl and you, the sons of Prācīnabarhiṣat, are on the same platform, being united on a common principle.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Unite Different Duties in Satisfying Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The brothers and the girl shared a common nature and purpose. Their marriage was a special arrangement blessed by the Lord, not an ordinary example to imitate.

  2. 2

    Apṛthag-dharma means occupational duty without difference of purpose. Like different limbs maintaining one body, people can perform different duties for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Work performed for the Lord’s satisfaction frees one from bondage. Following the Pracetās, our only aim should be to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness for His satisfaction.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead ordered all the sons of Prācīnabarhiṣat to marry the one girl born of the great sage Kaṇḍu and Pramlocā.
  • One may act according to his own occupational duty just to satisfy the yajña-puruṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Similarly, if we work for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we will find that we satisfy everything.

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 4.30.16 quotesBG 3.9

As confirmed by Bhagavad-gītā (3.9): “Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work binds one to this material world.

The purport of SB 4.30.16 quotesBG 18.66

According to Bhagavad-gītā (18.66), sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.”

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

Search → Devotional resolution. Prayer and instruction redirect household and societal life.

Chapters 30–31 of Canto 4: Pracetās and Nārada's concluding guidance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 30: The Activities of the Pracetās

The Lord appears to the Pracetās, who pray only for His satisfaction; Brahmā later pacifies them.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.30
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. apṛthakwithout differences
  2. dharmaoccupation
  3. śīlānāmwhose character
  4. sarveṣāmall
  5. vaḥof you
  6. su-madhyamāa girl whose waist is slender
  7. apṛthakwithout differences
  8. dharmaoccupation
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “duty”, “duties”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “father”

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 could my daily duties share the single purpose of satisfying Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Before one duty today, pause and consciously make the Lord’s satisfaction your purpose.

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 4.30's connections

Live this todayUnite Different Duties in Satisfying 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 4.30.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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