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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 31: Nārada Instructs the Pracetās
4.31.94.31.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.31.10

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.31.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

किं जन्मभिस्त्रिभिर्वेह शौक्रसावित्रयाज्ञिकै: ।

कर्मभिर्वा त्रयीप्रोक्तै: पुंसोऽपि विबुधायुषा ॥ १० ॥

kiṁ janmabhis tribhir veha

śaukra-sāvitra-yājñikaiḥ

karmabhir vā trayī-proktaiḥ

puṁso ’pi vibudhāyuṣā

Translation

A civilized human being has three kinds of births. The first birth is by a pure father and mother, and this birth is called birth by semen. The next birth takes place when one is initiated by the spiritual master, and this birth is called sāvitra. The third birth, called yājñika, takes place when one is given the opportunity to worship Lord Viṣṇu. Despite the opportunities for attaining such births, even if one gets the life span of a demigod, if one does not actually engage in the service of the Lord, everything is useless. Similarly, one’s activities may be mundane or spiritual, but they are useless if they are not meant for satisfying the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Birth Finds Its Purpose in Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Human life offers three births: birth from father and mother, initiation by the spiritual master, and qualification to worship Lord Viṣṇu. Without service meant to satisfy the Lord, these opportunities remain useless.

  2. 2

    Even a little tendency toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be given a chance to develop into devotional service. Proper initiation, regular chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, and following the regulative principles help one become qualified.

  3. 3

    Devotional service purifies a person regardless of birth; birth alone does not establish spiritual qualification. The living entity is the eternal servitor of the Supreme Lord, so even a very long life is useless without devotion.

Key points from the purport
  • But if a person is attached to the service of the Lord, he becomes glorified even if he is born in a caṇḍāla family.
  • Without devotional service, even a proud brāhmaṇa cannot deliver himself, and what to speak of his family.
  • A living entity is the eternal servitor of the Supreme Lord, and unless he comes to the platform of devotional service, his life span, good birth, glorious activities and everything else are null and void.

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· 3

The purport of SB 4.31.10 quotesSB 7.9.10

pādāravinda-vimukhāc chvapacaṁ variṣṭham. Even if one is a brāhmaṇa and is qualified with all the brahminical qualifications, he is considered degraded if he is averse to worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The purport of SB 4.31.10 quotesSB 7.11.35

tat tenaiva vinirdiśet. It is not a fact that because one is born in a brāhmaṇa family he is automatically a brāhmaṇa.

The purport of SB 4.31.10 quotesBG 8.17

te ’ho-rātra-vido janāḥ. The duration of one day of Brahmā is one thousand times greater than the four yugas, aggregating 4,320,000 years, and Brahmā’s night is of the same duration.

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 31: Nārada Instructs the Pracetās

The Pracetās leave home and receive Nārada’s instructions on satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.31
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kimwhat is the use
  2. janmabhiḥof births
  3. tribhiḥthree
  4. vāor
  5. ihain this world
  6. śaukraby semen
  7. sāvitraby initiation
  8. yājñikaiḥby becoming a perfect brāhmaṇa
3

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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.31

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.31

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.31

    In this verse: “chanting”

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 am I using my present opportunities to serve the Lord rather than relying on my background or achievements?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa with the intention of satisfying the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 7.9.10SB 7.11.35

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.31's connections

Live this todayBirth Finds Its Purpose in Devotional 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 4.31.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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