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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
4.13.364.13.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.37

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The head priestssince 4.13.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स विप्रानुमतो राजा गृहीत्वाञ्जलिनौदनम् ।

अवघ्राय मुदा युक्त: प्रादात्पत्‍न्या उदारधी: ॥ ३७ ॥

sa viprānumato rājā

gṛhītvāñjalinaudanam

avaghrāya mudā yuktaḥ

prādāt patnyā udāra-dhīḥ

Translation

The King was very liberal, and after taking permission from the priests, he took the preparation in his joined palms, and after smelling it he offered a portion to his wife.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Guides Devotees Toward Himself

  1. 1

    After receiving the priests’ permission, the liberal King accepted the preparation in his joined palms. He smelled it and offered a portion to his wife, Sunīthā, though she was not fit to receive the benediction.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead arranged for a cruel son to be born so that the King’s detachment from the material world would increase. The unfavorable family situation would lead him to leave home.

  3. 3

    Lord Viṣṇu fulfills a devotee’s desire differently from a karmī’s desire. He gives the devotee opportunities to progress and return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The wife of the King, Sunīthā, was not fit to accept this benediction, yet the King was so liberal that without hesitation he offered to his wife the boiled rice in milk prasāda received from the yajña-puruṣa.
  • Since the King was very liberal, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in order to increase his detachment from this material world, willed that a cruel son be born of the Queen so that the King would have to leave home.
  • The Lord gives the devotee the opportunity to make progress further and further so that he may come back home, back to Godhead.

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. saḥhe
  2. vipraof the brāhmaṇas
  3. anumataḥtaking permission
  4. rājāthe King
  5. gṛhītvātaking
  6. añjalināin his joined palms
  7. odanamrice boiled in milk
  8. avaghrāyaafter smelling
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”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “devotee’s”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “detachment”

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

Can I seek progress in devotional service even when circumstances do not fulfill my expectations?

Practice

Choose one disappointment today and pray for guidance to use it for progress in devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Guides Devotees Toward HimselfThis 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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