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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
4.14.354.14.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly sagessince 4.14.32inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

एकदा मुनयस्ते तु सरस्वत्सलिलाप्लुता: ।

हुत्वाग्नीन् सत्कथाश्चक्रुरुपविष्टा: सरित्तटे ॥ ३६ ॥

ekadā munayas te tu

sarasvat-salilāplutāḥ

hutvāgnīn sat-kathāś cakrur

upaviṣṭāḥ sarit-taṭe

Translation

Once upon a time, the same saintly persons, after taking their bath in the river Sarasvatī, began to perform their daily duties by offering oblations into the sacrificial fires. After this, sitting on the bank of the river, they began to talk about the transcendental person and His pastimes.

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.

Make Time to Discuss the Lord

  1. 1

    The saintly persons bathed in the river Sarasvatī.

  2. 2

    They performed their daily duties by offering oblations into the sacrificial fires.

  3. 3

    Afterward, they sat on the riverbank and discussed the transcendental person and His pastimes.

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. ekadāonce upon a time
  2. munayaḥall those great saintly persons
  3. tethey
  4. tuthen
  5. sarasvatof the river Sarasvatī
  6. salilain the water
  7. āplutāḥbathed
  8. hutvāoffering oblations
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

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

Where could discussion of the Lord find a regular place in my day?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today discussing the Lord and His pastimes with someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Time to Discuss the LordThis 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 4.14.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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