FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.29

परितुष्येत्ततस्तात तावन्मात्रेण पूरुष: । दैवोपसादितं यावद्वीक्ष्येश्वरगतिं बुध: ॥ २९ ॥
parituṣyet tatas tāta
[paritushyet tatas taata]
tāvan-mātreṇa pūruṣaḥ
[taavan-maatrena poorushah]
daivopasāditaṁ yāvad
[daivopasaaditam yaavad]
vīkṣyeśvara-gatiṁ budhaḥ
[veekshyeshvara-gatim budhah]
parituṣyet — one should be satisfied tataḥ — therefore tāta — my dear boy tāvat — up to such mātreṇa — quality pūruṣaḥ — a person daiva — destiny upasāditam — offered by yāvat — as vīkṣya — seeing īśvara-gatim — the process of the Supreme budhaḥ — one who is intelligent.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
parituṣyet tatas tāta
parituṣyet
one should be satisfied
tataḥ
therefore
tāta
my dear boy
tāvan-mātreṇa pūruṣaḥ
tāvat
up to such
mātreṇa
quality
pūruṣaḥ
a person
daivopasāditaṁ yāvad
daiva
destiny
upasāditam
offered by
yāvat
as
vīkṣyeśvara-gatiṁ budhaḥ
vīkṣya
seeing
īśvara-gatim
the process of the Supreme
budhaḥ
one who is intelligent.
The process of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very wonderful. One who is intelligent should accept that process and be satisfied with whatever comes, favorable or unfavorable, by His supreme will.

The great sage Nārada instructed Dhruva Mahārāja that one should be satisfied in all circumstances. Everyone who is intelligent should know that because of our concept of bodily existence, we are subjected to suffering and enjoyment. One who is in the transcendental position, beyond the concept of bodily life, is considered to be intelligent. One who is a devotee especially accepts all reverses as gifts of the Supreme Lord. When a devotee is put into distress, he accepts this as God’s mercy and offers Him repeated obeisances with his body, mind and intellect. An intelligent person, therefore, should be always satisfied, depending on the mercy of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Therefore, understanding that karma is produced by the Lord’s will, the intelligent person should be satisfied with the amount of happiness and distress received through his karma. Since this is so, one, by intelligence, should be satisfied with whatever amount (tāvan mātrena) of happiness and distress is attained by one’s own actions in previous lives, understanding that karma produces results under the direction of the Lord (īśvara-gatim).
An intelligent soul accepts the Lord's process — favorable or unfavorable — and stays satisfied. Real intelligence is not knowing more; it's holding the line of contentment in changing conditions.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I withholding my satisfaction until conditions match my preferences?
  • What 'unfavorable' element in my day could I deliberately receive as part of His arrangement?
📝 My note

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