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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
4.13.424.13.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.43

Mukti· Liberation
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

प्रायेणाभ्यर्चितो देवो येऽप्रजा गृहमेधिन: ।

कदपत्यभृतं दु:खं ये न विन्दन्ति दुर्भरम् ॥ ४३ ॥

prāyeṇābhyarcito devo

ye ’prajā gṛha-medhinaḥ

kad-apatya-bhṛtaṁ duḥkhaṁ

ye na vindanti durbharam

Translation

The King thought to himself: Persons who have no son are certainly fortunate. They must have worshiped the Lord in their previous lives so that they would not have to suffer the unbearable unhappiness caused by a bad son.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Good Qualities Matter More Than Having Sons

  1. 1

    In his grief, the King thought that people without sons were fortunate. He imagined that their previous worship of the Lord had spared them the unbearable suffering caused by a bad son.

  2. 2

    The purport notes the saying that married life without a son is empty. Yet merely having a son does not ensure happiness.

  3. 3

    A son without good qualities is compared to a blind eye that cannot see and causes unbearable pain. The King therefore considered himself very unfortunate.

Key points from the purport
  • It is said that a married couple must have a son, otherwise their family life is void.
  • But a son born without good qualities is as good as a blind eye.
  • The King therefore thought himself very unfortunate to have such a bad son.

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. prāyeṇaprobably
  2. abhyarcitaḥwas worshiped
  3. devaḥthe Lord
  4. yethey who
  5. aprajāḥwithout a son
  6. gṛha-medhinaḥpersons living at home
  7. kad-apatyaby a bad son
  8. bhṛtamcaused
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worship”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “king”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

Do I value good qualities more than simply having the family circumstances I desire?

Practice

Acknowledge one good quality in a family member today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGood Qualities Matter More Than Having SonsThis 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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