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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
4.31.274.31.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.31.28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 4.31.26inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

इमां तु कौषारविणोपवर्णितां

क्षत्ता निशम्याजितवादसत्कथाम् ।

प्रवृद्धभावोऽश्रुकलाकुलो मुने-

र्दधार मूर्ध्ना चरणं हृदा हरे: ॥ २८ ॥

imāṁ tu kauṣāraviṇopavarṇitāṁ

kṣattā niśamyājita-vāda-sat-kathām

pravṛddha-bhāvo ’śru-kalākulo muner

dadhāra mūrdhnā caraṇaṁ hṛdā hareḥ

Translation

My dear King, in this way, after hearing the transcendental messages of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees from the great sage Maitreya, Vidura was overwhelmed with ecstasy. With tears in his eyes, he immediately fell down at the lotus feet of his guru, his spiritual master. He then fixed the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the core of his heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Advance Through the Spiritual Master’s Guidance

  1. 1

    Hearing from Maitreya about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees, Vidura became overwhelmed with transcendental pleasure.

  2. 2

    With tears in his eyes, Vidura bowed at his spiritual master’s lotus feet and fixed the Lord within his heart.

  3. 3

    The path back to Godhead means surrendering to a bona fide spiritual master and taking the dust of his lotus feet on one’s head. Vidura’s relationship with Maitreya brought this spiritual result.

Key points from the purport
  • A devotee takes instructions from a liberated soul and is thus overwhelmed by ecstasy from transcendental pleasure.
  • The process of self-realization and the path home, back to Godhead, means surrendering to the bona fide spiritual master and taking the dust of his lotus feet on one’s head.
  • Thus one advances on the path of transcendental realization.

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 4.31.28 quotesSB 7.5.32

niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat. One cannot become a perfect devotee of the Lord without having touched the lotus feet of a great devotee.

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. imāmall this
  2. tuthen
  3. kauṣāraviṇāby Maitreya
  4. upavarṇitāmdescribed
  5. kṣattāVidura
  6. niśamyaafter hearing
  7. ajita-vādaglorification of the Supreme Lord
  8. sat-kathāmtranscendental message
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.31

    In this verse: “king”

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 can I receive genuine spiritual instruction with greater humility?

Practice

Reread one instruction from this purport and reflect on how to receive it humbly.

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 7.5.32

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

Live this todayAdvance Through the Spiritual Master’s GuidanceThis 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 4.31.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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