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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
4.13.244.13.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.25

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.13.25inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

अङ्गोऽश्वमेधं राजर्षिराजहार महाक्रतुम् ।

नाजग्मुर्देवतास्तस्मिन्नाहूता ब्रह्मवादिभि: ॥ २५ ॥

maitreya uvāca

aṅgo ’śvamedhaṁ rājarṣir

ājahāra mahā-kratum

nājagmur devatās tasminn

āhūtā brahma-vādibhiḥ

Translation

Śrī Maitreya replied: My dear Vidura, once the great King Aṅga arranged to perform the great sacrifice known as aśvamedha. All the expert brāhmaṇas present knew how to invite the demigods, but in spite of their efforts, no demigods participated or appeared in that sacrifice.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting Is the Practical Sacrifice Today

  1. 1

    King Aṅga arranged an aśvamedha sacrifice, but no demigods appeared despite the expert brāhmaṇas' invitations.

  2. 2

    Formerly, powerful brāhmaṇas could invite demigods and give sacrificed animals renewed life through Vedic mantras. Such animal sacrifices are forbidden in this age because those qualified brāhmaṇas are absent.

  3. 3

    The only practical yajña in this age is saṅkīrtana-yajña, chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. The purport encourages chanting throughout the day.

Key points from the purport
  • A Vedic sacrifice is not an ordinary performance.
  • The demigods used to participate in such sacrifices, and the animals sacrificed in such performances were reincarnated with new life.
  • In this Age of Kali there are no powerful brāhmaṇas who can invite the demigods or give renewed life to animals.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya answered
  2. aṅgaḥKing Aṅga
  3. aśvamedhamaśvamedha sacrifice
  4. rāja-ṛṣiḥthe saintly king
  5. ājahāraexecuted
  6. mahā-kratumgreat sacrifice
  7. nanot
  8. ājagmuḥcame
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”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “chanting”

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 can I make chanting a more regular part of my day?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChanting Is the Practical Sacrifice TodayThis 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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