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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 15: King Pṛthu’s Appearance and Coronation
4.14.464.15.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.15.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.15.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

अथ तस्य पुनर्विप्रैरपुत्रस्य महीपते: ।

बाहुभ्यां मथ्यमानाभ्यां मिथुनं समपद्यत ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca

atha tasya punar viprair

aputrasya mahīpateḥ

bāhubhyāṁ mathyamānābhyāṁ

mithunaṁ samapadyata

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, thus the brāhmaṇas and the great sages again churned the two arms of King Vena’s dead body. As a result a male and female couple came out of his arms.

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.

A Couple Appears from Vena’s Arms

  1. 1

    Maitreya continued describing these events to Vidura.

  2. 2

    The brāhmaṇas and great sages again churned the two arms of King Vena’s dead body.

  3. 3

    As a result, a male and female couple came out of his arms.

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 15: King Pṛthu’s Appearance and Coronation

Pṛthu and Arci appear from Vena’s arms; Pṛthu receives royal gifts and humbly questions premature praise.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya continued to speak
  2. athathus
  3. tasyahis
  4. punaḥagain
  5. vipraiḥby the brāhmaṇas
  6. aputrasyawithout a son
  7. mahīpateḥof the King
  8. bāhubhyāmfrom the arms
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.15

    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 carefully am I following the events Maitreya describes?

Practice

Read the translation slowly, then recall who acted and what happened.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Couple Appears from Vena’s ArmsThis 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 4.15.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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