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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
4.31.24.31.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.31.3

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.31.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तान्निर्जितप्राणमनोवचोद‍ृशो

जितासनान् शान्तसमानविग्रहान् ।

परेऽमले ब्रह्मणि योजितात्मन:

सुरासुरेड्यो दद‍ृशे स्म नारद: ॥ ३ ॥

tān nirjita-prāṇa-mano-vaco-dṛśo

jitāsanān śānta-samāna-vigrahān

pare ’male brahmaṇi yojitātmanaḥ

surāsureḍyo dadṛśe sma nāradaḥ

Translation

After practicing the yogāsana for mystic yoga, the Pracetās managed to control their life air, mind, words and external vision. Thus by the prāṇāyāma process they were completely relieved of material attachment. By remaining perpendicular, they could concentrate their minds on the uppermost Brahman. While they were practicing this prāṇāyāma, the great sage Nārada, who is worshiped both by demons and by demigods, came to see them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Person Is the Ultimate Goal

  1. 1

    The Absolute Truth is realized as impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The personal feature is the ultimate goal of transcendence.

  2. 2

    Following Lord Śiva’s instructions, the Pracetās concentrated on the Śyāmasundara form of the Supreme Brahman. Their controlled minds were directed toward the Supreme Person.

  3. 3

    Nārada was welcomed and respected by both demons and demigods despite their mutual hostility. A perfect Vaiṣṇava should similarly be independent and unbiased.

Key points from the purport
  • He is consequently described herein as surāsureḍya, worshiped both by demons and by demigods.
  • Although there is perpetual animosity between the demons and demigods, Nārada Muni is welcomed everywhere.
  • But not even the demons envy Nārada Muni; therefore he is equally worshiped both by demons and by demigods.

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 4.31.3 quotesSB 4.24.45-46

In his prayers, Lord Śiva concentrated upon the personal features of Parabrahman, described in personal terms as snigdha-prāvṛḍ-ghana-śyāmam.

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. tānall of them
  2. nirjitacompletely controlled
  3. prāṇathe life air (by the prāṇāyāma process)
  4. manaḥmind
  5. vacaḥwords
  6. dṛśaḥand vision
  7. jita-āsanānwho conquered the yogic āsana, or sitting posture
  8. śāntapacified
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.31

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

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

Do I understand spiritual realization as reaching toward the Supreme Person, rather than only an impersonal reality?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering the Śyāmasundara form as the personal feature of the Supreme Brahman.

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 4.24.45

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

Live this todayThe Supreme Person Is the Ultimate GoalThis 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 4.31.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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