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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 14: The Story of King Vena
4.13.494.14.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.1

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.14.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

भृग्वादयस्ते मुनयो लोकानां क्षेमदर्शिन: ।

गोप्तर्यसति वै नृणां पश्यन्त: पशुसाम्यताम् ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca

bhṛgv-ādayas te munayo

lokānāṁ kṣema-darśinaḥ

goptary asati vai nṝṇāṁ

paśyantaḥ paśu-sāmyatām

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued: O great hero Vidura, the great sages, headed by Bhṛgu, were always thinking of the welfare of the people in general. When they saw that in the absence of King Aṅga there was no one to protect the interests of the people, they understood that without a ruler the people would become independent and nonregulated.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Leadership Should Support Spiritual Welfare

  1. 1

    The sages headed by Bhṛgu always sought the welfare of the people. Their aim was to elevate everyone to the spiritual platform.

  2. 2

    Kings were meant to rule according to the sages’ instructions, keeping the ultimate goal of life in mind. After King Aṅga disappeared, no ruler remained to follow that guidance.

  3. 3

    Society needs intelligent, administrative, productive and worker classes according to quality and work. Without knowledge of life’s purpose, leaders make whimsical laws that do not bring happiness.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse the significant word is kṣema-darśinaḥ, which refers to those who are always looking after the welfare of the people in general.
  • All the great sages headed by Bhṛgu were always thinking of how to elevate all the people of the universe to the spiritual platform.
  • After the disappearance of King Aṅga, there was no one to follow the instructions of the great sages.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.14.1 quotesBG 4.13

As described in Bhagavad-gītā (4.13), human society must be divided into four orders according to quality and work.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 14: The Story of King Vena

Vena rejects the sages’ advice; after his death, they seek to preserve King Aṅga’s family.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya continued
  2. bhṛgu-ādayaḥheaded by Bhṛgu
  3. teall of them
  4. munayaḥthe great sages
  5. lokānāmof the people
  6. kṣema-darśinaḥwho always aspire for the welfare
  7. goptarithe King
  8. asatibeing absent
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 4.14

    In this verse: “king”, “ruler”, “kings”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “welfare”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “protect”

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 could concern for spiritual welfare shape a responsibility you have?

Practice

Before making one decision that affects others today, consider their spiritual welfare as well as their immediate needs.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLeadership Should Support Spiritual WelfareThis 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 4.14.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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