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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.25

Who is speaking and story frame

को यज्ञपुरुषो नाम यत्र वो भक्तिरीद‍ृशी ।

भर्तृस्‍नेहविदूराणां यथा जारे कुयोषिताम् ॥ २५ ॥

ko yajña-puruṣo nāma

yatra vo bhaktir īdṛśī

bhartṛ-sneha-vidūrāṇāṁ

yathā jāre kuyoṣitām

Translation

You are so much devoted to the demigods, but who are they? Indeed, your affection for these demigods is exactly like the affection of an unchaste woman who neglects her married life and gives all attention to her paramour.

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.

The King Belittles the Sages' Devotion

  1. 1

    The king questions who the demigods are and challenges the sages' devotion to them.

  2. 2

    He compares their affection for the demigods to an unfaithful wife's affection for a paramour.

  3. 3

    His comparison portrays their worship as neglect of their proper allegiance. It expresses his accusation rather than the sages' teaching.

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. kaḥwho (is)
  2. yajña-puruṣaḥthe enjoyer of all sacrifices
  3. nāmaby name
  4. yatraunto whom
  5. vaḥyour
  6. bhaktiḥdevotional service
  7. īdṛśīso great
  8. bhartṛfor the husband
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: “devotion”, “worship”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “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

How can contemptuous comparisons prevent a respectful discussion about worship?

Practice

Today, avoid one dismissive comparison when speaking about someone else's worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe King Belittles the Sages' DevotionThis 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 4.14.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.