4Read on Vedabase
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Canto 4 · 31 chapters · 1448 verses · 14 stories
The Creation of the Fourth Order
Canto Four follows the descendants of Svāyambhuva Manu and recounts the histories of Dakṣa and Satī, Dhruva Mahārāja, King Pṛthu, and the Pracetās. Through these histories and Nārada’s allegory of King Purañjana, it teaches the dangers of envy, anger, and material attachment. Its conclusion is that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is life’s goal.
What this canto speaks about · the ten subjects
Īśānukathā 474Ūti 288Mukti 198Manvantara 117Poṣaṇa 101Visarga 82Āśraya 80Nirodha 75Sthāna 27Sarga 6
- 1Chapter 1Genealogical Table of the Daughters of ManuMaitreya describes the descendants of Manu’s daughters and the blessings received by Atri Muni.Mostly Visarga ·66 verses · Atri Muni receives blessings
- 2Chapter 2Dakṣa Curses Lord ŚivaDakṣa insults and curses Lord Śiva at a great sacrificial assembly.Mostly Ūti ·35 verses · Satī confronts Dakṣa’s envy
- 3Chapter 3Talks Between Lord Śiva and SatīSatī wishes to attend her father’s sacrifice; Lord Śiva warns her about envy and hurtful words.Mostly Ūti ·25 verses · Satī confronts Dakṣa’s envy
- 4Chapter 4Satī Quits Her BodySatī goes to Dakṣa’s sacrifice, condemns his offense against Lord Śiva, and gives up her body.Mostly Īśānukathā ·34 verses · Satī confronts Dakṣa’s envy
- 5Chapter 5Frustration of the Sacrifice of DakṣaLord Śiva’s soldiers destroy Dakṣa’s sacrificial arena, and Vīrabhadra beheads Dakṣa.Mostly Īśānukathā ·26 verses · Dakṣa’s sacrifice is restored
- 6Chapter 6Brahmā Satisfies Lord ŚivaBrahmā and the demigods approach Lord Śiva, asking him to show mercy.Mostly Sthāna ·53 verses · Dakṣa’s sacrifice is restored
- 7Chapter 7The Sacrifice Performed by DakṣaLord Śiva is pacified, Dakṣa acknowledges his offense, and Lord Viṣṇu accepts the sacrifice.Mostly Īśānukathā ·61 verses · Dakṣa’s sacrifice is restored
- 8Chapter 8Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the ForestDhruva leaves home, receives Nārada’s instructions, and worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead with austerity.Mostly Mukti ·82 verses · Dhruva Mahārāja’s determination
- 9Chapter 9Dhruva Mahārāja Returns HomeThe Lord grants Dhruva’s desire; Dhruva regrets his former hostility and returns to his family.Mostly Īśānukathā ·67 verses · Dhruva Mahārāja’s determination
- 10Chapter 10Dhruva Mahārāja’s Fight with the YakṣasAfter Uttama is killed by a Yakṣa, Dhruva fights the Yakṣas and faces their illusions.Mostly Īśānukathā ·30 verses · Dhruva gives up anger
- 11Chapter 11Svāyambhuva Manu Advises Dhruva Mahārāja to Stop FightingSvāyambhuva Manu urges Dhruva to stop killing innocent Yakṣas and turn his attention to the Supreme Lord.Mostly Āśraya ·35 verses · Dhruva gives up anger
- 12Chapter 12Dhruva Mahārāja Goes Back to GodheadDhruva stops fighting, continues devotional service, leaves his kingdom, and goes back to Godhead.Mostly Īśānukathā ·52 verses · Dhruva gives up anger
- 13Chapter 13Description of the Descendants of Dhruva MahārājaDhruva’s descendants are described, followed by an account of a sonless king and the cruel boy Vena.Mostly Īśānukathā ·49 verses · King Vena rejects good counsel
- 14Chapter 14The Story of King VenaVena rejects the sages’ advice; after his death, they seek to preserve King Aṅga’s family.Mostly Manvantara ·46 verses · King Vena rejects good counsel
- 15Chapter 15King Pṛthu’s Appearance and CoronationPṛthu and Arci appear from Vena’s arms; Pṛthu receives royal gifts and humbly questions premature praise.Mostly Īśānukathā ·26 verses · Pṛthu provides for his citizens
- 16Chapter 16Praise of King Pṛthu by the Professional RecitersReciters describe Pṛthu’s future protection of citizens, service to devotees, and meeting with Sanat-kumāra.Mostly Manvantara ·27 verses · Pṛthu provides for his citizens
- 17Chapter 17Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the EarthPṛthu pursues the cow-shaped earth, who offers prayers and appeals to his mercy.Mostly Īśānukathā ·36 verses · Pṛthu provides for his citizens
- 18Chapter 18Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth PlanetPṛthu and others milk the earth; he provides citizens with food, employment, and places to live.Mostly Īśānukathā ·32 verses · Pṛthu provides for his citizens
- 19Chapter 19King Pṛthu’s One Hundred Horse SacrificesIndra repeatedly takes the sacrificial horse, and Brahmā restrains Pṛthu’s anger.Mostly Īśānukathā ·42 verses · Pṛthu’s sacrifice and prayers
- 20Chapter 20Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja PṛthuLord Viṣṇu appears with Indra, instructs Pṛthu, and receives his worship and devotional prayers.Mostly Īśānukathā ·38 verses · Pṛthu’s sacrifice and prayers
- 21Chapter 21Instructions by Mahārāja PṛthuPṛthu addresses an assembly about devotional service and respect for brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.Mostly Īśānukathā ·52 verses · Pṛthu’s life of devoted service
- 22Chapter 22Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Meeting with the Four KumārasThe four Kumāras instruct Pṛthu, who dedicates himself and the fruits of his activities to the Lord.Mostly Īśānukathā ·63 verses · Pṛthu’s life of devoted service
- 23Chapter 23Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back HomePṛthu practices forest austerities and fixed devotion to Kṛṣṇa, then departs; Arci’s faithful service is praised.Mostly Mukti ·39 verses · Pṛthu’s life of devoted service
- 24Chapter 24Chanting the Song Sung by Lord ŚivaLord Śiva mercifully teaches the Pracetās prayers glorifying the Supreme Lord.Mostly Īśānukathā ·79 verses · Lord Śiva teaches the Pracetās
- 25Chapter 25The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King PurañjanaNārada’s allegory introduces Purañjana, his search for enjoyment, and his attraction to a woman.Mostly Ūti ·62 verses · Lord Śiva teaches the Pracetās · Purañjana’s search for enjoyment
- 26Chapter 26King Purañjana Goes to the Forest to Hunt, and His Queen Becomes AngryPurañjana kills innocent animals while hunting, then returns and tries to soothe his distressed queen.Mostly Ūti ·26 verses · Purañjana’s search for enjoyment
- 27Chapter 27Attack by Caṇḍavega on the City of King Purañjana; the Character of KālakanyāPurañjana grows deeply attached to family while Caṇḍavega’s soldiers attack his city.Mostly Nirodha ·30 verses · Purañjana’s search for enjoyment
- 28Chapter 28Purañjana Becomes a Woman in the Next LifePurañjana’s city falls; he becomes a woman, and a brāhmaṇa recalls the soul’s forgotten spiritual friendship.Mostly Mukti ·65 verses · Nārada explains Purañjana’s story
- 29Chapter 29Talks Between Nārada and King PrācīnabarhiNārada explains the allegory and devotional service; Prācīnabarhi leaves home to perform austerities.Mostly Ūti ·88 verses · Nārada explains Purañjana’s story
- 30Chapter 30The Activities of the PracetāsThe Lord appears to the Pracetās, who pray only for His satisfaction; Brahmā later pacifies them.Mostly Īśānukathā ·51 verses · The Pracetās meet the Lord
- 31Chapter 31Nārada Instructs the PracetāsThe Pracetās leave home and receive Nārada’s instructions on satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.Mostly Īśānukathā ·31 verses · Nārada’s final counsel to the Pracetās
Chapter lines and stories are short summaries drawn from the Bhāgavatam's own chapter summaries and translations. Read each chapter in full for the text itself.