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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

4.30.37 4.30.39-40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.38

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

वयं तु साक्षाद्भगवन् भवस्य

प्रियस्य सख्यु: क्षणसङ्गमेन ।

सुदुश्चिकित्स्यस्य भवस्य मृत्यो-

र्भिषक्तमं त्वाद्य गतिं गता: स्म ॥ ३८ ॥

vayaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavan bhavasya

priyasya sakhyuḥ kṣaṇa-saṅgamena

suduścikitsyasya bhavasya mṛtyor

bhiṣaktamaṁ tvādya gatiṁ gatāḥ sma

Translation

Dear Lord, by virtue of a moment’s association with Lord Śiva, who is very dear to You and who is Your most intimate friend, we were fortunate to attain You. You are the most expert physician, capable of treating the incurable disease of material existence. On account of our great fortune, we have been able to take shelter at Your lotus feet.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Benediction Means Shelter of the Lord

1
Through a moment’s association with Lord Śiva, the Pracetās attained the Supreme Lord’s shelter. The Lord is the most expert physician for the disease of material existence.
2
Lord Śiva is the most exalted Vaiṣṇava. Those who truly follow his advice seek shelter at Lord Viṣṇu’s lotus feet rather than merely asking for material prosperity.
3
Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the only supreme master; all others are His devotees or servants. The real benediction is His shelter, with the aim of returning home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport

Lord Śiva is the supreme devotee of Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
To get material benedictions from Lord Śiva is not difficult, but actually these are not benedictions.
The Pracetās received benediction from Lord Śiva, and as a result they attained the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu.

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 4.30.38 quotesBG 7.20

Generally people go to the demigods for material benefit, as indicated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.20): “Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.”

The purport of SB 4.30.38 quotesCC Ādi 5.142

The actual fact is, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya: “The only supreme master is Kṛṣṇa, and all others are His devotees or servants.”

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

vayamwe
tuthen
sākṣātdirectly
bhagavanO Lord
bhavasyaof Lord Śiva
priyasyavery dear
sakhyuḥYour friend
kṣaṇafor a moment

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
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.30
In this verse: “material”
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.30
In this verse: “friend”
Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender
Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.30
In this verse: “shelter”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do my prayers seek material prosperity or the lasting shelter of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer today for shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet and the opportunity to serve Him, rather than for material gain.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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 todayReal Benediction Means Shelter of the LordThis 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 4.30.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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