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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 14: The Story of King Vena
4.14.144.14.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.15

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sagessince 4.14.14inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

धर्म आचरित: पुंसां वाङ्‍मन:कायबुद्धिभि: ।

लोकान् विशोकान् वतरत्यथानन्त्यमसङ्गिनाम् ॥ १५ ॥

dharma ācaritaḥ puṁsāṁ

vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-buddhibhiḥ

lokān viśokān vitaraty

athānantyam asaṅginām

Translation

Those who live according to religious principles and who follow them by words, mind, body and intelligence are elevated to the heavenly kingdom, which is devoid of all miseries. Being thus rid of the material influence, they achieve unlimited happiness in life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve With Your Whole Being

  1. 1

    A head of government should set an example by living a religious life. Religion means worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Religious life should not be merely a show. Devotional service should engage words, mind, body and good intelligence.

  3. 3

    Such service frees both leaders and the people they guide from material contamination. It gradually leads them back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The saintly sages herein instruct that the king or head of government should set an example by living a religious life.
  • One should not simply make a show of religious life, but should perform devotional service perfectly with words, mind, body and good intelligence.
  • The instructions given herein serve as a summary of how the head of government should execute his ruling power and thus attain happiness not only in this life but also in the life after death.

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 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. dharmaḥreligious principles
  2. ācaritaḥexecuted
  3. puṁsāmto persons
  4. vākby words
  5. manaḥmind
  6. kāyabody
  7. buddhibhiḥand by intelligence
  8. lokānthe planets
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “kingdom”, “government”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “worshiping”

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

Is my religious practice an outward show, or does it engage my thoughts and actions too?

Practice

Choose one act of devotional service today and give it your words, attention, bodily effort and thoughtful care.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayServe With Your Whole BeingThis 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 4.14.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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