Chatusloki Bhagvat

 A

Excellent question 🌸

You’re now referring to the Chatuḥśloki Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (चतुःश्लोकी श्रीमद्भागवतम्) — the four seed verses from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) that are considered the essence of the entire 18,000 verses.

These four verses are spoken by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as Nārāyaṇa) to Lord Brahmā at the very beginning of creation (Canto 2, Chapter 9, Verses 33–36). They are often described as the heart of the Bhāgavatam — containing the complete philosophical and devotional foundation of the text.

🌺 The Four Verses of the Chatuḥśloki Bhāgavatam

(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.9.33–36)

1. SB 2.9.33 — The Source of All

अहमेवासमेवाग्रे नान्यद् यत् सदसत् परम् ।

पश्चादहं यदेतच्च योऽवशिष्येत सोऽस्म्यहम् ॥

Transliteration:

aham evāsam evāgre nānyad yat sad-asat param

paścād ahaṁ yad etac ca yo ’vaśiṣyeta so ’smy aham

Meaning:

“I alone existed before the creation of this universe. There was nothing else — neither the cause nor the effect. What you see now is also I, and after annihilation, only I will remain.”

Essence:

The Supreme Lord alone exists before, during, and after creation. He is the source, sustainer, and ultimate reality.

2. SB 2.9.34 — The Illusion of the Material World

ऋतेऽर्थं यत् प्रतीतं च न प्रत्येत चात्मनि ।

तद् विद्यादात्मनो मायां यथाऽऽभासो यथा तमः ॥

Transliteration:

ṛte ’rthaṁ yat pratītaṁ ca na pratyeta cātmani

tad vidyād ātmano māyāṁ yathābhāso yathā tamaḥ

Meaning:

“O Brahmā, whatever appears to exist, apart from Me, has no independent existence. It is My illusory energy (māyā), like a reflection or darkness.”

Essence:

All diversity seen apart from God is Māyā — His illusory energy — having no separate reality.

3. SB 2.9.35 — Understanding the Truth

यथा महान्ति भूतानि भूतेषूच्चावचेष्वनु ।

प्रवेशं यान्ति नान्यत्र तद्वत् तेषु न तेष्वहम् ॥

Transliteration:

yathā mahānti bhūtāni bhūteṣūccāva-ceṣv anu

praveśaṁ yānti nānyatra tadvat teṣu na teṣv aham

Meaning:

“Just as the elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) enter all beings, great and small, but remain separate from them, so I exist within everything and yet am not part of anything.”

Essence:

The Lord pervades everything, yet remains transcendental — immanent and beyond all at once.

4. SB 2.9.36 — Realizing the Lord

एतावदेव जिज्ञास्यं तत्त्वजिज्ञासुनात्मनः ।

अन्वयव्यतिरेकाभ्यां यत् स्यात् सर्वत्र सर्वदा ॥

Transliteration:

etāvadeva jijñāsyaṁ tattva-jijñāsunātmanah

anvaya-vyatirekābhyāṁ yat syāt sarvatra sarvadā

Meaning:

“A person who wishes to understand the Truth should inquire into this — the nature of the Lord who is present everywhere and at all times, both directly and indirectly.”

Essence:

Through both direct (anvaya) and indirect (vyatireka) analysis, one realizes the Absolute Truth (Param Tattva) — Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself.

🌼 

Summary of the Chatuḥśloki Bhāgavatam

Verse	Concept	Essence
2.9.33	Existence before creation	God alone exists — eternal and self-sufficient
2.9.34	Illusion of separateness	The world apart from Him is His Māyā
2.9.35	Immanence and transcendence	He pervades all but remains beyond all
2.9.36	Path of realization	By understanding direct and indirect manifestations, one realizes the Supreme

🕉️ Philosophical Essence

The Chatuḥśloki Bhāgavatam encapsulates:

• Vedānta’s essence — Brahman (God) is the source, sustainer, and end of all.
• Bhakti’s heart — Devotion to that Supreme Person is the highest goal.
• Jñāna’s depth — True knowledge is realizing the unity and diversity in Him.

Would you like me to show how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or Śrī Madhvācārya interpreted these four verses — especially how they connect to Bhakti-yoga and the Advaita/Vaishnava views?