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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 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest
4.8.334.8.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.34

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.8.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

गुणाधिकान्मुदं लिप्सेदनुक्रोशं गुणाधमात् ।

मैत्रीं समानादन्विच्छेन्न तापैरभिभूयते ॥ ३४ ॥

guṇādhikān mudaṁ lipsed

anukrośaṁ guṇādhamāt

maitrīṁ samānād anvicchen

na tāpair abhibhūyate

Translation

Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Replace Envy With Joy and Compassion

  1. 1

    Instead of envying someone more qualified, a devotee should be pleased to receive that person.

  2. 2

    Instead of oppressing someone less qualified, one should show compassion and help that person improve. An equal should be treated as a friend, not as someone before whom to display pride.

  3. 3

    We should also have compassion for people suffering from forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa. These ways of relating to others bring happiness within this material world.

Key points from the purport
  • Generally when we find someone more qualified than ourselves, we become envious of him; when we find someone less qualified, we deride him; and when we find someone equal we become very proud of our activities.
  • Instead of being envious of a more qualified man, one should be jolly to receive him.
  • Instead of being oppressive to a less qualified man, one should be compassionate toward him just to raise him to the proper standard.

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

Rejection → Transformed aspiration. A child's wounded pride is purified by divine encounter.

Chapters 8–12 of Canto 4: Dhruva seeks and encounters the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest

Dhruva leaves home, receives Nārada’s instructions, and worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead with austerity.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. guṇa-adhikātone who is more qualified
  2. mudampleasure
  3. lipsetone should feel
  4. anukrośamcompassion
  5. guṇa-adhamātone who is less qualified
  6. maitrīmfriendship
  7. samānātwith an equal
  8. anvicchetone should desire
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “compassionate”, “compassion”, “suffering”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “friendship”, “friend”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which response do I most need to cultivate: appreciation, compassion, or friendship?

Practice

Offer sincere appreciation today to someone whose abilities you might otherwise envy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReplace Envy With Joy and CompassionOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 4.8.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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