Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Meeting with the Four Kumāras

The four Kumāras instruct Pṛthu, who dedicates himself and the fruits of his activities to the Lord.

Themes of SB 4.22Rāja-dharma5 Dharma5 Karuṇā4 Vairāgya3 from its story phase

Connected storiesKing VenaLord KalkiLord RāmacandraQueen Kuntī

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, the four Kumāras, Queen Arci

The story · Pṛthu addressed an assembly about taking shelter of the Lord and respecting brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. When the four Kumāras arrived, he asked how those entangled in material enjoyment could attain good fortune. After receiving their instructions, he dedicated himself and the fruits of his activities to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In old age, he distributed his wealth, practiced forest austerities, and developed unflinching devotion to Kṛṣṇa. When he departed from his body, Arci prepared his funeral pyre, and the wives of the demigods praised her faithful service.

What it teaches · Discussion among devotees benefits both speakers and hearers. Pṛthu’s life shows dedication to the Lord in royal duties as well as in retirement.

SB 4.22.19 SB 4.22.51 SB 4.23.10 Read chapter 21 ›

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.

After the death of King Vena, the whole world was bereft of a popular ruler.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.22.43 (Text 43)

Because of his disobedience to the orders of the Vedas and the brāhmaṇas, King Vena, Pṛthu Mahārāja’s father, was killed by the brāhmaṇas.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.22.45 (Text 45)

Read the story in SB 4.13–14

Lord Kalki

SB 12.2 · Lord Kalki restores religion

What it teaches · The Supreme Lord appears to protect religious principles and relieve His saintly devotees from the reactions of material work.

At the end of this Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as the incarnation of Kalki, and His only business will be to kill all human beings on the surface of the globe.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.22.36 (Text 36)

Read the story in SB 12.2

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.

Rāvaṇa, for example, was a great worshiper and devotee of Lord Śiva, and in return he got all the blessings of goddess Durgā, so much so that his whole kingdom was constructed of golden buildings.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.22.36 (Text 36)

Throughout the whole universe — in the higher, lower and middle planetary systems — Pṛthu Mahārāja’s reputation was loudly declared, and all ladies and saintly persons heard his glories, which were as sweet as the glories of Lord Rāmacandra.
In the verse · SB 4.22.63 (Text 63)

Read the story in SB 9.10–11

Queen Kuntī

SB 1.8 · Kuntī’s prayer for undivided devotion

What it teaches · Kuntī’s prayer expresses dependence on Kṛṣṇa and the desire for uninterrupted devotion. The Lord remains unborn and transcendental even while protecting His devotees within this world.

Regarding His devotees, Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna, “O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee will never perish.” ( Bg.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.22.42 (Text 42)

“This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, producing all the moving and unmoving beings, and by its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.” All material changes and material progress taking place by the…
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.22.51 (Text 51)

Read the story in SB 1.8

Ambarīṣa Mahārāja

SB 9.4–5 · Ambarīṣa protects Durvāsā

What it teaches · A devotee finds happiness in serving Kṛṣṇa rather than in wealth or mystic achievements. Ambarīṣa’s humility and compassion extended even to the person who had offended him.

It is said in the śāstras that Durvāsā Muni was always accompanied by sixty thousand disciples and that if there was a little discrepancy in their reception he would be very angry and would sometimes curse the host.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.22.10 (Text 10)

Read the story in SB 9.4–5

Other Bhāgavatam verses Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes here

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