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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
4.31.124.31.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.31.13

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

श्रेयसामपि सर्वेषामात्मा ह्यवधिरर्थत: ।

सर्वेषामपि भूतानां हरिरात्मात्मद: प्रिय: ॥ १३ ॥

śreyasām api sarveṣām

ātmā hy avadhir arthataḥ

sarveṣām api bhūtānāṁ

harir ātmātmadaḥ priyaḥ

Translation

Factually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original source of all self-realization. Consequently, the goal of all auspicious activities — karma, jñāna, yoga and bhakti — is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Realize Your Identity Through Loving Devotion

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original source of both matter and spirit. The material world is His external energy, and the living entity is His marginal energy.

  2. 2

    The living entity is the Lord’s energy, not the Supreme Person. Our duty is to understand our real identity, and Kṛṣṇa gives us the facilities to reach devotional service.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa gives those who constantly worship Him with love the understanding by which they can come to Him. Whatever spiritual process one begins with, one must reach bhakti-yoga to achieve self-realization.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entity is the marginal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the material world is the external energy.
  • Under the circumstances, one must understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is factually the original source of both matter and spirit.
  • The living entity is the marginal potency of the Supreme Lord, although there is factually no difference between the energy and the energetic.

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 4.31.13 quotesBG 7.4

This is explained in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (7.4-5):

The purport of SB 4.31.13 quotesBG 10.10

Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms this in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10): “To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śreyasāmof auspicious activities
  2. apicertainly
  3. sarveṣāmall
  4. ātmāthe self
  5. hicertainly
  6. avadhiḥdestination
  7. arthataḥfactually
  8. sarveṣāmof all
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti”, “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.31

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.31

    In this verse: “duty”

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 might understanding myself as Kṛṣṇa’s energy change the way I approach Him?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa today, asking for understanding that will help you serve Him with love.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRealize Your Identity Through Loving DevotionThis 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.

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