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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
4.30.44.30.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.30.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सुपर्णस्कन्धमारूढो मेरुश‍ृङ्गमिवाम्बुद: ।

पीतवासा मणिग्रीव: कुर्वन्वितिमिरा दिश: ॥ ५ ॥

suparṇa-skandham ārūḍho

meru-śṛṅgam ivāmbudaḥ

pīta-vāsā maṇi-grīvaḥ

kurvan vitimirā diśaḥ

Translation

The Personality of Godhead, appearing on the shoulder of Garuḍa, seemed like a cloud resting on the summit of the mountain known as Meru. The transcendental body of the Personality of Godhead was covered by attractive yellow garments, and His neck was decorated with the jewel known as Kaustubha-maṇi. The bodily effulgence of the Lord dissipated all the darkness of the universe.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Light Dispels Darkness

  1. 1

    The Lord appeared on Garuḍa, wearing attractive yellow garments and the Kaustubha-maṇi jewel. His bodily effulgence dissipated the darkness of the universe.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is like the brilliant sun. Wherever He is present, darkness and ignorance cannot remain.

  3. 3

    The sun and moon reflect the Supreme Lord’s bodily effulgence. The purport identifies that effulgence as the origin of all life.

Key points from the purport
  • Consequently, whenever the Supreme Personality of Godhead is present, there cannot be darkness or ignorance.
  • Actually this dark universe is illuminated by the sun, but the sun and moon simply reflect the bodily effulgence of the Supreme Lord.
  • Being illuminated by the bodily effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, everything is freed from all darkness.

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 4.30.5 quotesCC Madhya 22.31

As stated in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.31): The Lord is just like the effulgent sun.

The purport of SB 4.30.5 quotesBG 7.8

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.8) the Lord says, prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ: “I am the illuminating energy of both the sun and the moon.”

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. suparṇaof Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu
  2. skandhamthe shoulder
  3. ārūḍhaḥsitting on
  4. meruof the mountain named Meru
  5. śṛṅgamon the summit
  6. ivalike
  7. ambudaḥa cloud
  8. pīta-vāsāḥwearing yellow garments
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

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 seeing the Lord as the source of light deepen my appreciation of Him?

Practice

When you notice sunlight or moonlight today, pause to remember the Supreme Lord as its source of illumination.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Light Dispels DarknessThis 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 4.30.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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