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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

4.15.16 4.15.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.15.17

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

दशचन्द्रमसिं रुद्र: शतचन्द्रं तथाम्बिका ।

सोमोऽमृतमयानश्वांस्त्वष्टा रूपाश्रयं रथम् ॥ १७ ॥

daśa-candram asiṁ rudraḥ

śata-candraṁ tathāmbikā

somo ’mṛtamayān aśvāṁs

tvaṣṭā rūpāśrayaṁ ratham

Translation

Lord Śiva presented him with a sword within a sheath marked with ten moons, and his wife, the goddess Durgā, presented him with a shield marked with one hundred moons. The moon-demigod presented him with horses made of nectar, and the demigod Viśvakarmā presented him with a very beautiful chariot.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Gifts of Weapons, Horses and Chariot

1
Lord Śiva presented a sword within a sheath marked with ten moons.
2
His wife, the goddess Durgā, presented a shield marked with one hundred moons.
3
The moon-demigod gave horses made of nectar. Viśvakarmā gave a very beautiful chariot.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

daśa-candramdecorated with ten moons
asimsword
rudraḥLord Śiva
śata-candramdecorated with one hundred moons
tathāin that manner
ambikāthe goddess Durgā
somaḥthe moon-demigod
amṛta-mayānmade of nectar

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

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which details distinguish these gifts from ordinary weapons and vehicles?

Practice

Recall each giver and gift, then check your recollection against the translation.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGifts of Weapons, Horses and ChariotThis 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 4.15.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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