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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 7: The Sacrifice Performed by Dakṣa
4.7.374.7.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.38

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great mysticssince 4.7.38inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

योगेश्‍वरा ऊचु

प्रेयान्न तेऽन्योऽस्त्यमुतस्त्वयि प्रभो

विश्वात्मनीक्षेन्न पृथग्य आत्मन: ।

अथापि भक्त्येश तयोपधावता-

मनन्यवृत्त्यानुगृहाण वत्सल ॥ ३८ ॥

yogeśvarā ūcuḥ

preyān na te ’nyo ’sty amutas tvayi prabho

viśvātmanīkṣen na pṛthag ya ātmanaḥ

athāpi bhaktyeśa tayopadhāvatām

ananya-vṛttyānugṛhāṇa vatsala

Translation

The great mystics said: Dear Lord, persons who see You as nondifferent from themselves, knowing that You are the Supersoul of all living entities, are certainly very, very dear to You. You are very favorable toward those who engage in devotional service, accepting You as the Lord and themselves as the servants. By Your mercy, You are always inclined in their favor.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Especially Favors Loving Service

  1. 1

    Oneness with the Lord does not mean that a living entity is equal to Him in every respect. Living entities are His superior energy and share His quality.

  2. 2

    Those who understand the Lord’s energies and their own constitutional position are very dear to Him. Even more favored are those who think of Him with love and faith as His eternal servants.

  3. 3

    The Lord is known as bhakta-vatsala, always favorably inclined toward His devotees. Loving devotional service draws His special favor, even without extensive knowledge.

Key points from the purport
  • Those who are actually in perfect knowledge of the science of God know that the living entities are superior energy of the Supreme Lord.
  • Persons who are in full knowledge of the Personality of Godhead, analyzing His different energies and knowing their own constitutional position, are certainly very, very dear to the Lord.
  • Persons, however, who may not even be conversant with knowledge of the Supreme Personality but who always think of the Lord with love and faith, feeling that He is great and that they are His parts and parcels, ever His servitors, are even more favored by 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 4.7.38 quotesBG 7.17

This monism is based on pure knowledge as described and confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.17): priyo hi jñānino ’tyartham ahaṁ sa ca mama priyaḥ.

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

Humiliation and anger → Reconciliation. Relational offense leads to grief and destruction before restoration.

Chapters 1–7 of Canto 4: Dakṣa, Satī and Śiva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: The Sacrifice Performed by Dakṣa

Lord Śiva is pacified, Dakṣa acknowledges his offense, and Lord Viṣṇu accepts the sacrifice.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yoga-īśvarāḥthe great mystics
  2. ūcuḥsaid
  3. preyānvery dear
  4. nanot
  5. teof You
  6. anyaḥanother
  7. astithere is
  8. amutaḥfrom that
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “mercy”, “favorable”, “favored”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

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 strengthen the understanding that the Lord is great and I am His eternal servant?

Practice

Take one quiet minute to think of the Lord with love and faith, offering yourself as His servant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Especially Favors Loving ServiceThis 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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