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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
4.30.274.30.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.28

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

एतावत्त्वं हि विभुभिर्भाव्यं दीनेषु वत्सलै: ।

यदनुस्मर्यते काले स्वबुद्ध्याभद्ररन्धन ॥ २८ ॥

etāvat tvaṁ hi vibhubhir

bhāvyaṁ dīneṣu vatsalaiḥ

yad anusmaryate kāle

sva-buddhyābhadra-randhana

Translation

Dear Lord, You are the killer of all inauspicious things. You are compassionate upon Your poor devotees through the expansion of Your arcā-vigraha. You should certainly think of us as Your eternal servants.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Accepts Loving Service

  1. 1

    The arcā-vigraha is an expansion of the Lord’s unlimited potencies. Because He is compassionate, He accepts the service of beginning devotees.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord accepts a leaf, flower, fruit or water offered with love and devotion. He accepts bhāva, the attitude of service.

  3. 3

    Sincere devotees should worship the Lord’s form at home or in the temple, following authorized scriptures and the spiritual master. As the Lord becomes satisfied with their service, He accepts them as His unalloyed servants.

Key points from the purport
  • By nature, the Lord is very compassionate; therefore the service of neophyte devotees is accepted by the Lord.
  • The Lord, being bhakta-vatsala, compassionate upon His devotees, accepts these offerings.
  • Thus it is the duty of every sincere devotee to accept the arcā-vigraha at home or in the temple and worship the form of the Lord as advised in authorized scriptures and directed by the spiritual master.

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 4.30.28 quotesBG 9.26

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (9.26): “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”

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. etāvatthus
  2. tvamYour Lordship
  3. hicertainly
  4. vibhubhiḥby expansions
  5. bhāvyamto be conceived
  6. dīneṣuunto the humble devotees
  7. vatsalaiḥcompassionate
  8. yatwhich
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotion”, “worship”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “compassionate”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “love”

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

Am I giving attention to the loving attitude behind my offering?

Practice

Offer the Lord a little water or a fruit today with a sincere desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Accepts Loving ServiceThis 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 4.30.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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