King Pṛthu’s One Hundred Horse Sacrifices

Indra repeatedly takes the sacrificial horse, and Brahmā restrains Pṛthu’s anger.

Themes of SB 4.19Rāja-dharma5 Dharma5 Karuṇā4 Vairāgya3 from its story phase

Connected storiesKing VenaAtri MuniDiti and KaśyapaLord Rāmacandra

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · King Pṛthu, Pṛthu’s son, Indra, Atri, Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu

The story · Pṛthu began a series of one hundred horse sacrifices, but Indra repeatedly took the sacrificial horse while wearing false disguises. Guided by Atri, Pṛthu’s son pursued Indra and recovered the horse. Pṛthu became ready to kill Indra, but Brahmā intervened and urged him not to be distressed by providential obstacles. Satisfied with ninety-nine sacrifices, Lord Viṣṇu appeared with Indra and instructed Pṛthu. Pṛthu worshiped the Lord with growing devotion and spoke against seeking material benedictions.

What it teaches · Brahmā advises steadiness when providence obstructs one’s plans. Pṛthu’s prayers value hearing the Lord’s glories among devotees above material rewards.

SB 4.19.34 SB 4.20.1 SB 4.20.26 Read chapter 19 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

King Vena

SB 4.13–14 · King Vena rejects good counsel

What it teaches · A pious ruler supports citizens in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through their occupations. Royal power does not justify demanding the worship due to the Lord.

Being thus informed, the grandson of King Vena immediately began to follow Indra, who was fleeing through the sky in great haste.
In the verse · SB 4.19.16 (Text 16)

O King Pṛthu, son of Vena, you are the part-and-parcel expansion of Lord Viṣṇu.
In the verse · SB 4.19.37 (Text 37)

Read the story in SB 4.13–14

Atri Muni

SB 4.1 · Atri Muni receives blessings

What it teaches · The account presents Atri’s control of attachment and sustained austerity, followed by the gracious blessings of the three deities.

When Atri Muni saw that the son of King Pṛthu did not kill Indra but returned deceived by him, Atri Muni again instructed him to kill the heavenly King because he thought that Indra had become the lowliest of all demigods due to his impeding the execution of…
In the verse · SB 4.19.15 (Text 15)

Read the story in SB 4.1

Diti and Kaśyapa

SB 3.14–15 · Diti’s troubled desire SB 6.18–19 · Diti’s vow and the Lord’s mercy

What it teaches · Diti’s account shows how lust can lead to forbidden action and trouble for others. The Lord who would descend to kill her sons is described as the well-wisher of all living entities.

The Lord was accompanied by the residents of Siddhaloka and Vidyādhara-loka, all the descendants of Diti, and the demons and the Yakṣas.
In the verse · SB 4.19.5 (Text 5)

Read the story in SB 3.14–15

Lord Rāmacandra

SB 9.10–11 · Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes

What it teaches · Hearing Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes frees one from envy and the bondage of fruitive activities. The Lord’s gift of enlightenment within the heart is greater than material wealth.

He was very angry with him, and he chased him just as the king of the vultures chased Rāvaṇa.
In the verse · SB 4.19.16 (Text 16)

Sometimes Lord Viṣṇu appears in His person as Lord Kṛṣṇa or Lord Rāma.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.19.37 (Text 37)

Read the story in SB 9.10–11

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