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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
4.14.234.14.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.24

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Venasince 4.14.23inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अवजानन्त्यमी मूढा नृपरूपिणमीश्वरम् ।

नानुविन्दन्ति ते भद्रमिह लोके परत्र च ॥ २४ ॥

avajānanty amī mūḍhā

nṛpa-rūpiṇam īśvaram

nānuvindanti te bhadram

iha loke paratra ca

Translation

Those who, out of gross ignorance, do not worship the king, who is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead, experience happiness neither in this world nor in the world after death.

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.

Recognize the King's Demand for Worship

  1. 1

    In this statement, the king presents the king as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is his demand for worship, not an instruction from the sages.

  2. 2

    He calls those who do not worship the king grossly ignorant.

  3. 3

    He claims that such people cannot experience happiness either in this world or after death.

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. avajānantidisrespect
  2. amīthose (who)
  3. mūḍhāḥbeing ignorant
  4. nṛpa-rūpiṇamin the form of the king
  5. īśvaramthe Personality of Godhead
  6. nanot
  7. anuvindantiexperience
  8. tethey
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “death”

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 does the king use the promise of happiness to press his demand for worship?

Practice

Reread the statement and identify it clearly as the king's claim.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the King's Demand for 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.14.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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