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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
4.13.264.13.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.27

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

राजन् हवींष्यदुष्टानि श्रद्धयासादितानि ते ।

छन्दांस्ययातयामानि योजितानि धृतव्रतै: ॥ २७ ॥

rājan havīṁṣy aduṣṭāni

śraddhayāsāditāni te

chandāṁsy ayāta-yāmāni

yojitāni dhṛta-vrataiḥ

Translation

O King, we know that the paraphernalia to perform the sacrifice is well collected by you with great faith and care and is not polluted. Our chanting of the Vedic hymns is also not deficient in any way, for all the brāhmaṇas and priests present here are expert and are executing the performances properly.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Holy Name Has Great Potency

  1. 1

    King Aṅga had collected the sacrificial materials with faith and care. The priests found no impurity in the materials or deficiency in their chanting.

  2. 2

    Vedic mantras require the right accent and pronunciation to be successful. The purport explains that such expertise and purity are lacking in this age.

  3. 3

    Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra gives the highest benefit of sacrificial performances. Even when imperfectly pronounced, the mantra remains potent and benefits the chanter.

Key points from the purport
  • It is the practice of the brāhmaṇas conversant with the science to pronounce a Vedic mantra in the right accent.
  • But by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra one can attain the highest benefit of sacrificial performances.
  • Even if the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is not chanted properly, it still has so much potency that the chanter gains the effect.

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. rājanO King
  2. havīṁṣisacrificial offerings
  3. aduṣṭāninot polluted
  4. śraddhayāwith great faith and care
  5. āsāditānicollected
  6. teyour
  7. chandāṁsithe mantras
  8. ayāta-yāmāninot deficient
  9. yojitāniproperly executed
  10. dhṛta-vrataiḥby qualified brāhmaṇas.
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”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “materials”

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

Does concern about imperfect pronunciation keep me from chanting?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today with care, without letting imperfect pronunciation discourage you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Holy Name Has Great PotencyThis 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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