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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 31: Nārada Instructs the Pracetās
4.31.44.31.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.31.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:All the Pracetāssince 4.31.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्रचेतस ऊचु:

स्वागतं ते सुरर्षेऽद्य दिष्ट्या नो दर्शनं गत: ।

तव चङ्‌क्रमणं ब्रह्मन्नभयाय यथा रवे: ॥ ५ ॥

pracetasa ūcuḥ

svāgataṁ te surarṣe ’dya

diṣṭyā no darśanaṁ gataḥ

tava caṅkramaṇaṁ brahmann

abhayāya yathā raveḥ

Translation

All the Pracetās began to address the great sage Nārada: O great sage, O brāhmaṇa, we hope you met with no disturbances while coming here. It is due to our great fortune that we are now able to see you. By the traveling of the sun, people are relieved from the fear of the darkness of night — a fear brought about by thieves and rogues. Similarly, your traveling is like the sun’s, for you drive away all kinds of fear.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Saintly Association Dispels Ignorance and Fear

  1. 1

    The Pracetās considered Nārada’s visit their great fortune. They welcomed him and asked whether his journey had been free from disturbances.

  2. 2

    As sunrise relieves the fear caused by darkness, the appearance of a great sage like Nārada disperses ignorance.

  3. 3

    The material world is full of fear and danger. Meeting Nārada or his representative, a spiritual master, relieves anxiety brought about by ignorance.

Key points from the purport
  • Because of the night’s darkness, everyone is afraid of rogues and thieves, especially in great cities.
  • Everyone is afraid of danger at every moment, but when one sees a devotee like Nārada, all fear is relieved.
  • Just as the sun disperses darkness, the appearance of a great sage like Nārada disperses ignorance.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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. pracetasaḥ ūcuḥthe Pracetās said
  2. su-āgatamwelcome
  3. teunto you
  4. sura-ṛṣeO sage among the demigods
  5. adyatoday
  6. diṣṭyāby good fortune
  7. naḥof us
  8. darśanamaudience
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.31

    In this verse: “fear”, “danger”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.31

    In this verse: “free from”

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

Which of my anxieties shows a need for spiritual understanding?

Practice

Write down one anxiety about which you would like to seek a spiritual master’s guidance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySaintly Association Dispels Ignorance and FearThis 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 4.31.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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