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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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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
4.31.84.31.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.31.9

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
A turning point forThe Pracetās· Devotional conclusion

नारद उवाच

तज्जन्म तानि कर्माणि तदायुस्तन्मनो वच: ।

नृणां येन हि विश्वात्मा सेव्यते हरिरीश्वर: ॥ ९ ॥

nārada uvāca

taj janma tāni karmāṇi

tad āyus tan mano vacaḥ

nṛṇāṁ yena hi viśvātmā

sevyate harir īśvaraḥ

Translation

The great sage Nārada said: When a living entity is born to engage in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme controller, his birth, all his fruitive activities, his life span, his mind and his words are all factually perfect.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Makes Human Life Successful

  1. 1

    Human birth becomes successful through interest in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Everyone should engage in the Lord’s devotional service, regardless of wealth, race or other material distinctions.

  2. 2

    Activities are successful when they result in serving the Lord, and thought is successful when directed toward understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Real religion means becoming God conscious.

  3. 3

    Devotional service means engaging the senses in the Lord’s service. In this way, one’s birth, activities, life span, mind and words become factually perfect.

Key points from the purport
  • But in perfect human society everyone should engage in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • Actually, devotional service means engaging the senses in the service of the Lord.
  • However, when the senses are engaged in the service of the Lord, one attains bhakti, or devotional service.

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. nāradaḥ uvācaNārada said
  2. tat janmathat birth
  3. tānithose
  4. karmāṇifruitive activities
  5. tatthat
  6. āyuḥspan of life
  7. tatthat
  8. manaḥmind
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: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”

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 use my mind, words or senses in the Lord’s service today?

Practice

Use your voice today to speak one sincere sentence glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Makes Human Life SuccessfulThis 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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