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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.13.44.13.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 4.13.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यास्ता देवर्षिणा तत्र वर्णिता भगवत्कथा: ।

मह्यं शुश्रूषवे ब्रह्मन् कार्त्स्‍न्येनाचष्टुमर्हसि ॥ ५ ॥

yās tā devarṣiṇā tatra

varṇitā bhagavat-kathāḥ

mahyaṁ śuśrūṣave brahman

kārtsnyenācaṣṭum arhasi

Translation

My dear brāhmaṇa, how did Nārada Muni glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and what pastimes were described in that meeting? I am very eager to hear of them. Kindly explain fully about that glorification of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Eagerness Opens the Way to Hearing

  1. 1

    Vidura eagerly asked to hear how Nārada had glorified the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam records bhagavat-kathā, topics about the Lord’s pastimes.

  3. 3

    What Vidura desired to hear from Maitreya remains available to us five thousand years later, provided we are very eager.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the record of bhagavat-kathā, topics about the pastimes of the Lord.
  • What Vidura was anxious to hear from Maitreya we can also hear five thousand years later, provided we are very eager.

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. yāḥwhich
  2. tāḥall those
  3. devarṣiṇāby the great sage Nārada
  4. tatrathere
  5. varṇitāḥnarrated
  6. bhagavat-kathāḥpreachings pertaining to the activities of the Lord
  7. mahyamunto me
  8. śuśrūṣavevery eager to hear
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “glorify”, “glorified”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “kindly”

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 eager am I to give my attention to the Lord’s pastimes?

Practice

Read a short passage of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam today without distractions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEagerness Opens the Way to HearingThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.13.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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