1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.31.144.31.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.31.15

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

यथैव सूर्यात्प्रभवन्ति वार:

पुनश्च तस्मिन्प्रविशन्ति काले ।

भूतानि भूमौ स्थिरजङ्गमानि

तथा हरावेव गुणप्रवाह: ॥ १५ ॥

yathaiva sūryāt prabhavanti vāraḥ

punaś ca tasmin praviśanti kāle

bhūtāni bhūmau sthira-jaṅgamāni

tathā harāv eva guṇa-pravāhaḥ

Translation

During the rainy season, water is generated from the sun, and in due course of time, during the summer season, the very same water is again absorbed by the sun. Similarly, all living entities, moving and inert, are generated from the earth, and again, after some time, they all return to the earth as dust. Similarly, everything emanates from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in due course of time everything enters into Him again.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Everything Comes From and Returns to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Everything emanates from the Supreme Personality of Godhead and enters into Him again. The verse illustrates this through water returning to the sun and earthly bodies returning to dust.

  2. 2

    The Brahman effulgence consists of transcendental rays from Kṛṣṇa’s body, and everything exists within those rays. The entire cosmic manifestation is a display of His energy.

  3. 3

    When Kṛṣṇa manifests His material energy, creation becomes visible; when He withdraws it, everything vanishes. Creation and dissolution occur through the breathing of Mahā-Viṣṇu, a plenary portion of Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • During the rainy season, the rain, by rejuvenating the production of vegetables on earth, enables man and animals to obtain living energy.
  • Similarly, the total material energy is generated from the body of Kṛṣṇa, and at such a time the entire cosmic manifestation is visible.
  • This entire material creation comes from the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and at the time of annihilation again enters into Him.

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 4.31.15 quotesBG 9.4

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (9.4): mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni.

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. yathāas
  2. evacertainly
  3. sūryātfrom the sun
  4. prabhavantiis generated
  5. vāraḥwater
  6. punaḥagain
  7. caand
  8. tasminunto it
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 world as Kṛṣṇa’s energy deepen my desire to worship Him?

Practice

Look at a plant or some water today and remember its dependence on Kṛṣṇa’s energy; then offer Him a brief prayer of worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEverything Comes From and Returns to KṛṣṇaThis 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 4.31.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories