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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
4.13.384.13.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.39

Ūti· What drives us to act
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 बाल एव पुरुषो मातामहमनुव्रत: ।

अधर्मांशोद्भवं मृत्युं तेनाभवदधार्मिक: ॥ ३९ ॥

sa bāla eva puruṣo

mātāmaham anuvrataḥ

adharmāṁśodbhavaṁ mṛtyuṁ

tenābhavad adhārmikaḥ

Translation

That boy was born partially in the dynasty of irreligion. His grandfather was death personified, and the boy grew up as his follower; he became a greatly irreligious person.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Family Difficulties Can Deepen Devotional Detachment

  1. 1

    Sunīthā was the daughter of death personified, and her son followed his maternal grandfather’s irreligious ways. The purport explains that a child generally follows the qualities of the maternal family.

  2. 2

    For this reason, Vedic marriage arrangements consider both families, along with astrological compatibility. Even so, mistakes may occur and family life may become frustrating.

  3. 3

    The purport presents King Aṅga’s difficult family circumstances as an arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although a pious devotee, he experienced these troubles and became free from family entanglement to go back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The child’s mother, Sunīthā, was the daughter of death personified.
  • So, according to the axiomatic truth that things equal to the same thing are equal to one another, the child born of King Aṅga became the follower of his maternal grandfather.
  • If the maternal family is very corrupt or sinful, the child, even though born of a good father, becomes a victim of the maternal family.

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. saḥthat
  2. bālaḥchild
  3. evacertainly
  4. puruṣaḥmale
  5. mātā-mahammaternal grandfather
  6. anuvrataḥa follower of
  7. adharmaof irreligion
  8. aṁśafrom a portion
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “free from”

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 might I respond to family difficulties in a way that supports devotional progress?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today for devotional service rather than dwelling on a family frustration.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFamily Difficulties Can Deepen Devotional DetachmentThis 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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