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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
4.14.214.14.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.22

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

यज्ञेन युष्मद्विषये द्विजातिभि-

र्वितायमानेन सुरा: कला हरे: ।

स्विष्टा: सुतुष्टा: प्रदिशन्ति वाञ्छितं

तद्धेलनं नार्हसि वीर चेष्टितुम् ॥ २२ ॥

yajñena yuṣmad-viṣaye dvijātibhir

vitāyamānena surāḥ kalā hareḥ

sviṣṭāḥ sutuṣṭāḥ pradiśanti vāñchitaṁ

tad-dhelanaṁ nārhasi vīra ceṣṭitum

Translation

When all the brāhmaṇas engage in performing sacrifices in your kingdom, all the demigods, who are plenary expansions of the Lord, will be very much satisfied by their activities and will give you your desired result. Therefore, O hero, do not stop the sacrificial performances. If you stop them, you will disrespect the demigods.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Support Sacrifice Rather Than Obstruct It

  1. 1

    The sages ask the king to allow the brāhmaṇas to continue performing sacrifices in his kingdom.

  2. 2

    The demigods are described as plenary expansions of the Lord. When satisfied by these sacrifices, they grant the desired result.

  3. 3

    Stopping the sacrificial performances would disrespect the demigods. The king is therefore urged not to obstruct them.

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. yajñenaby sacrifice
  2. yuṣmatyour
  3. viṣayein the kingdom
  4. dvijātibhiḥby the brāhmaṇas
  5. vitāyamānenabeing performed
  6. surāḥall the demigods
  7. kalāḥexpansions
  8. hareḥof the Personality of Godhead
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: “kingdom”, “king”

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 your actions support worship or make it harder for others?

Practice

Today, avoid one unnecessary interruption during another person's worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySupport Sacrifice Rather Than Obstruct ItThis 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 4.14.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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