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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
4.13.184.13.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.13.19-20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

यमङ्ग शेपु: कुपिता वाग्वज्रा मुनय: किल ।

गतासोस्तस्य भूयस्ते ममन्थुर्दक्षिणं करम् ॥ १९ ॥

अराजके तदा लोके दस्युभि: पीडिता: प्रजा: ।

जातो नारायणांशेन पृथुराद्य: क्षितीश्वर: ॥ २० ॥

yam aṅga śepuḥ kupitā

vāg-vajrā munayaḥ kila

gatāsos tasya bhūyas te

mamanthur dakṣiṇaṁ karam

arājake tadā loke

dasyubhiḥ pīḍitāḥ prajāḥ

jāto nārāyaṇāṁśena

pṛthur ādyaḥ kṣitīśvaraḥ

Translation

My dear Vidura, when great sages curse, their words are as invincible as a thunderbolt. Thus when they cursed King Vena out of anger, he died. After his death, since there was no king, all the rogues and thieves flourished, the kingdom became unregulated, and all the citizens suffered greatly. On seeing this, the great sages took the right hand of Vena as a churning rod, and as a result of their churning, Lord Viṣṇu in His partial representation made His advent as King Pṛthu, the original emperor 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.

Responsible Rule Protects Citizens

  1. 1

    The great sages’ curse was as invincible as a thunderbolt, and Vena died. Without a king, rogues and thieves flourished, and the citizens suffered greatly.

  2. 2

    The purport favors strong monarchy because it can uphold regulative principles effectively. It contrasts this with incapable government, under which thieves, rogues and cheaters become prominent.

  3. 3

    Seeing the citizens’ suffering, the sages churned Vena’s right hand. Lord Viṣṇu appeared in His partial representation as King Pṛthu, the original emperor of the world.

Key points from the purport
  • Monarchy is better than democracy because if the monarchy is very strong the regulative principles within the kingdom are upheld very nicely.
  • As a result of this severe punishment there were practically no theft cases within the kingdom.
  • As a result of incapable government, at the present moment thieves, rogues and cheaters are very prominent all over the world.

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. yamhim (Vena) whom
  2. aṅgamy dear Vidura
  3. śepuḥthey cursed
  4. kupitāḥbeing angry
  5. vāk-vajrāḥwhose words are as strong as a thunderbolt
  6. munayaḥgreat sages
  7. kilaindeed
  8. gata-asoḥ tasyaafter he died
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”, “kingdom”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “death”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

How does this account connect responsible leadership with the well-being of ordinary people?

Practice

Respect another person’s property today by carefully returning something you have borrowed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayResponsible Rule Protects CitizensThis 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.

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