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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
4.13.104.13.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.11

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.13.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मत्वा तं जडमुन्मत्तं कुलवृद्धा: समन्त्रिण: ।

वत्सरं भूपतिं चक्रुर्यवीयांसं भ्रमे: सुतम् ॥ ११ ॥

matvā taṁ jaḍam unmattaṁ

kula-vṛddhāḥ samantriṇaḥ

vatsaraṁ bhūpatiṁ cakrur

yavīyāṁsaṁ bhrameḥ sutam

Translation

For this reason the ministers and all the elderly members of the family thought Utkala to be without intelligence and, in fact, mad. Thus his younger brother, named Vatsara, the son of Bhrami, was elevated to the royal throne, and he became king of the world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Royal Authority Included Counsel and Selection

  1. 1

    The ministers and elderly family members considered Utkala unintelligent and mad. They therefore placed his younger brother Vatsara, the son of Bhrami, on the throne.

  2. 2

    Although there was monarchy, it was not an autocracy. Senior family members and ministers could make changes and select the person to rule.

  3. 3

    The ruler still had to come from the royal family. The purport notes that similar choices sometimes occur in modern monarchies.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears that although there was monarchy, it was not at all an autocracy.
  • There were senior family members and ministers who could make changes and elect the proper person to the throne, although the throne could be occupied only by the royal family.
  • In modern days also, wherever there is monarchy, sometimes the ministers and elderly members of the family select one member from the royal family to occupy the throne in preference to another.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja

Dhruva’s descendants are described, followed by an account of a sonless king and the cruel boy Vena.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.13
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. matvāthinking
  2. tamUtkala
  3. jaḍamwithout intelligence
  4. unmattammad
  5. kula-vṛddhāḥthe elderly members of the family
  6. samantriṇaḥwith the ministers
  7. vatsaramVatsara
  8. bhū-patimruler of the world
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “king”, “ruler”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to receive thoughtful counsel rather than insist on deciding alone?

Practice

Before making one shared decision today, ask for the view of an experienced person involved.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRoyal Authority Included Counsel and SelectionThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.13.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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