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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
4.14.174.14.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.18

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly personssince 4.14.17inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यस्य राष्ट्रे पुरे चैव भगवान् यज्ञपूरुष: ।

इज्यते स्वेन धर्मेण जनैर्वर्णाश्रमान्वितै: ॥ १८ ॥

yasya rāṣṭre pure caiva

bhagavān yajña-pūruṣaḥ

ijyate svena dharmeṇa

janair varṇāśramānvitaiḥ

Translation

The king is supposed to be pious in whose state and cities the general populace strictly observes the system of eight social orders of varṇa and āśrama, and where all citizens engage in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead by their particular occupations.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Your Work Worship

  1. 1

    The activities of rulers and citizens should lead everyone toward devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the purpose of the four varṇas and four āśramas.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate purpose and enjoyer of all sacrifices. He is therefore called yajña-pūruṣa.

  3. 3

    People attain perfection by worshiping the Lord through their prescribed duties. Each person can render service through the results of their work.

Key points from the purport
  • The activities of the government head, or king, as well as the activities of the citizens, should be so directed that ultimately everyone engages in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The king, or government head, is supposed to be the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is therefore supposed to see that things go on nicely and that the citizens are situated in the scientific social order comprised of four varṇas and four āśramas.
  • In perfect human society, people are situated in the orders of varṇa and āśrama and are engaged in worshiping Lord Viṣṇu by their respective activities.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.14.18 quotesBG 5.29

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29): bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasām.

The purport of SB 4.14.18 quotesBG 18.46

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.46): “By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, man can, in the performance of his own duty, attain perfection.”

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. yasyawhose
  2. rāṣṭrein the state or kingdom
  3. purein the cities
  4. caalso
  5. evacertainly
  6. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. yajña-pūruṣaḥwho is the enjoyer of all sacrifices
  8. ijyateis worshiped
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: “varṇa”, “āśrama”, “duties”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”, “rulers”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

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 can the work I do become service meant to satisfy Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one duty today and consciously perform it for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction rather than only for personal reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Your Work WorshipThis 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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