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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
4.30.224.30.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.23

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Pracetāssince 4.30.22inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

शुद्धाय शान्ताय नम: स्वनिष्ठया

मनस्यपार्थं विलसद्‌द्वयाय ।

नमो जगत्स्थानलयोदयेषु

गृहीतमायागुणविग्रहाय ॥ २३ ॥

śuddhāya śāntāya namaḥ sva-niṣṭhayā

manasy apārthaṁ vilasad-dvayāya

namo jagat-sthāna-layodayeṣu

gṛhīta-māyā-guṇa-vigrahāya

Translation

Dear Lord, we beg to offer our obeisances unto You. When the mind is fixed upon You, the world of duality, although a place for material enjoyment, appears meaningless. Your transcendental form is full of transcendental bliss. We therefore offer our respects unto You. Your appearances as Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva are meant for the purpose of creating, maintaining and annihilating this cosmic manifestation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve the Lord Without Material Attachment

  1. 1

    A pure devotee whose mind is fixed on the Lord understands that the material world is temporary. Remaining unattached while performing material activities is called anāsakti.

  2. 2

    Everything in this world is a manifestation of the Supreme Lord’s energy. He accepts forms as Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva for creation, maintenance and annihilation, while remaining unaffected by material nature.

  3. 3

    A devotee may appear to perform ordinary material activities, but performs them in the Lord’s service. With the mind fixed on His lotus feet, material enjoyment for sense gratification has no use.

Key points from the purport
  • A pure devotee, whose mind is always engaged in the service of the Lord, can certainly appreciate the impermanence of this material world.
  • To maintain the three modes of material nature, the Supreme Lord takes on different forms as Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva.
  • The conclusion is that although the pure devotee appears to engage in material activities in the service of the Lord, he knows very well that material enjoyment for sense gratification has no use whatsoever.

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

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. śuddhāyaunto the unadulterated
  2. śāntāyaunto the most peaceful
  3. namaḥwe offer our obeisances
  4. sva-niṣṭhayāby being situated in one’s position
  5. manasiin the mind
  6. apārthamwithout any meaning
  7. vilasatappearing
  8. dvayāyain whom the dual world
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “understands”

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 remembering the Lord change my purpose in an ordinary activity?

Practice

During one ordinary task today, remember the Lord and seek to perform it as service rather than for sense gratification.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe the Lord Without Material AttachmentThis 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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