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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
4.13.19-204.13.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 4.13.21inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

विदुर उवाच

तस्य शीलनिधे: साधोर्ब्रह्मण्यस्य महात्मन: ।

राज्ञ: कथमभूद्दुष्टा प्रजा यद्विमना ययौ ॥ २१ ॥

vidura uvāca

tasya śīla-nidheḥ sādhor

brahmaṇyasya mahātmanaḥ

rājñaḥ katham abhūd duṣṭā

prajā yad vimanā yayau

Translation

Vidura inquired from the sage Maitreya: My dear brāhmaṇa, King Aṅga was very gentle. He had high character and was a saintly personality and lover of brahminical culture. How is it that such a great soul got a bad son like Vena, because of whom he became indifferent to his kingdom and left it?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Room for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    Vidura asked how gentle, saintly King Aṅga, a lover of brahminical culture, could have such a bad son as Vena.

  2. 2

    Family life is meant to be happy, but a family member can sometimes become a source of hostility. The purport explains that such difficulties commonly occur in the material world.

  3. 3

    According to the Vedic culture described here, one should leave family life just after the fiftieth year. The remaining years should be completely devoted to the search for Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • In family life a man is supposed to live happily with father, mother, wife and children, but sometimes, under certain conditions, a father, mother, child or wife becomes an enemy.
  • In this way, when a family member becomes an enemy it is very difficult to live in family life or remain a householder.
  • Therefore according to Vedic culture one has to take leave of his family members just after his fiftieth year so that the balance of his life may be completely devoted in search of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viduraḥ uvācaVidura said
  2. tasyaof him (Aṅga)
  3. śīla-nidheḥreservoir of good characteristics
  4. sādhoḥsaintly person
  5. brahmaṇyasyalover of brahminical culture
  6. mahātmanaḥgreat soul
  7. rājñaḥof the king
  8. kathamhow
3

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”, “kingdom”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “indifferent”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “lover”

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 making space for Kṛṣṇa consciousness rather than expecting family life alone to satisfy me?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today specifically for cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Room for Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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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