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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 30: The Activities of the Pracetās
4.30.264.30.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.27

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

रूपं भगवता त्वेतदशेषक्लेशसङ्‌क्षयम् ।

आविष्कृतं न: क्लिष्टानां किमन्यदनुकम्पितम् ॥ २७ ॥

rūpaṁ bhagavatā tv etad

aśeṣa-kleśa-saṅkṣayam

āviṣkṛtaṁ naḥ kliṣṭānāṁ

kim anyad anukampitam

Translation

Dear Lord, we conditioned souls are always covered by ignorance in the bodily conception of life. We therefore always prefer the miserable conditions of material existence. To deliver us from these miserable conditions, You have advented Yourself in this transcendental form. This is evidence of Your unlimited causeless mercy upon those of us who are suffering in this way. Then what to speak of the devotees to whom You are always so favorably disposed?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Form Brings Merciful Relief

  1. 1

    The Lord appears in His transcendental form to diminish the miseries of material existence. Even those He annihilates receive benefit from Him.

  2. 2

    The Pracetās humbly identify themselves as common suffering people. The Lord shows mercy both to conditioned souls and to devotees already liberated through devotional service.

  3. 3

    The arcā-vigraha, the Deity incarnation, allows beginners to see and worship the Lord’s real form. Through this worship, they gradually awaken their original Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • When the Lord appears in His original form, He acts to deliver the pious and annihilate the miscreants (Bg. 4.8).
  • Thus it is said that the appearance of the Lord diminishes all kinds of miserable conditions caused by material existence.
  • All neophytes must therefore engage in the worship of the Lord by keeping the arcā-vigraha (arcāvatāra) at home or in the temple.

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 4.30.27 quotesBG 4.8

When the Lord appears in His original form, He acts to deliver the pious and annihilate the miscreants.

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. rūpamform
  2. bhagavatāby Your Lordship
  3. tubut
  4. etatthis
  5. aśeṣaunlimited
  6. kleśamiseries
  7. saṅkṣayamwhich dissipates
  8. āviṣkṛtamrevealed
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”, “favorably”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”, “worship”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “suffering”

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 does understanding Deity worship as the Lord’s mercy change my approach to it?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances before the Deity at home or in a temple today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Form Brings Merciful ReliefThis 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 4.30.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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