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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
4.7.524.7.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.53

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Lordsince 4.7.52inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यथा पुमान्न स्वाङ्गेषु शिर:पाण्यादिषु क्‍वचित् ।

पारक्यबुद्धिं कुरुते एवं भूतेषु मत्पर: ॥ ५३ ॥

yathā pumān na svāṅgeṣu

śiraḥ-pāṇy-ādiṣu kvacit

pārakya-buddhiṁ kurute

evaṁ bhūteṣu mat-paraḥ

Translation

A person with average intelligence does not think the head and other parts of the body to be separate. Similarly, My devotee does not differentiate Viṣṇu, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, from any thing or any living entity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Equal Vision Becomes Compassionate Service

  1. 1

    When one part of the body is diseased, the whole body cares for it. Similarly, a devotee’s understanding of oneness appears as compassion for conditioned souls.

  2. 2

    Devotees know that every living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. They share Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that everyone may become happy.

  3. 3

    Devotees especially care for those who have forgotten Kṛṣṇa. Their equal vision means working to bring living entities back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Whenever there is disease in any part of the body, the whole body takes care of the ailing part.
  • Because devotees are learned and know that every living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, they preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness to everyone so that everyone may be happy.
  • Similarly, devotees care for any person who is forgetful of Kṛṣṇa and therefore in material consciousness.

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 4.7.53 quotesBG 5.18

Bhagavad-gītā (5.18) says, paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ: those who are learned see everyone’s conditional life equally.

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. yathāas
  2. pumāna person
  3. nanot
  4. sva-aṅgeṣuin his own body
  5. śiraḥ-pāṇi-ādiṣubetween the head and the hands and other parts of the body
  6. kvacitsometimes
  7. pārakya-buddhimdifferentiation
  8. kurutemake
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 4.7

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotee’s”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “compassion”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

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 your understanding of others as parts of the Lord become practical compassion?

Practice

Share one simple teaching about Kṛṣṇa with someone willing to hear, with their spiritual happiness in mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEqual Vision Becomes Compassionate 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.7.53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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