1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.15.154.15.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.15.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sagesince 4.15.14inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ब्रह्मा ब्रह्ममयं वर्म भारती हारमुत्तमम् ।

हरि: सुदर्शनं चक्रं तत्पत्‍न्यव्याहतां श्रियम् ॥ १६ ॥

brahmā brahmamayaṁ varma

bhāratī hāram uttamam

hariḥ sudarśanaṁ cakraṁ

tat-patny avyāhatāṁ śriyam

Translation

Lord Brahmā presented King Pṛthu with a protective garment made of spiritual knowledge. Bhāratī [Sarasvatī], the wife of Brahmā, gave him a transcendental necklace. Lord Viṣṇu presented him with a Sudarśana disc, and Lord Viṣṇu’s wife, the goddess of fortune, gave him imperishable opulences.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pṛthu’s Power Represents the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Brahmā gave a protective garment made of spiritual knowledge, and Bhāratī gave a transcendental necklace. Lord Viṣṇu’s wife, the goddess of fortune, gave imperishable opulences.

  2. 2

    Hari, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Upendra in the heavenly planet, gave Pṛthu a Sudarśana disc.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Pṛthu represented only part of His power. Pṛthu’s disc likewise represented partial power, not the same type of disc used by the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • All the demigods presented various gifts to King Pṛthu.
  • Hari, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Upendra in the heavenly planet, presented the King with a Sudarśana disc.
  • Since Mahārāja Pṛthu was a partial representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s power, the Sudarśana disc given to him represented the partial power of the original Sudarśana disc.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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. brahmāLord Brahmā
  2. brahma-mayammade of spiritual knowledge
  3. varmaarmor
  4. bhāratīthe goddess of learning
  5. hāramnecklace
  6. uttamamtranscendental
  7. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. sudarśanam cakramSudarśana disc
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”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “protective”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Why is it important to distinguish Pṛthu’s represented power from the Supreme Lord’s original power?

Practice

Reread the purport and state in one sentence how Pṛthu’s disc differs from the Lord’s.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPṛthu’s Power Represents the Supreme 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 4.15.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories