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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
4.15.184.15.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.15.19

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

नाट्यं सुगीतं वादित्रमन्तर्धानं च खेचरा: ।

ऋषयश्चाशिष: सत्या: समुद्र: शङ्खमात्मजम् ॥ १९ ॥

nāṭyaṁ sugītaṁ vāditram

antardhānaṁ ca khecarāḥ

ṛṣayaś cāśiṣaḥ satyāḥ

samudraḥ śaṅkham ātmajam

Translation

The demigods who always travel in outer space gave King Pṛthu the arts to perform dramas, sing songs, play musical instruments and disappear at his will. The great sages also offered him infallible blessings. The ocean offered him a conchshell produced from the ocean.

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.

Arts, Blessings and a Conchshell

  1. 1

    The demigods who travel in outer space gave Pṛthu the arts of drama, singing and playing musical instruments.

  2. 2

    They also gave him the art of disappearing at will.

  3. 3

    The great sages offered infallible blessings. The ocean offered a conchshell produced from itself.

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. nāṭyamthe art of drama
  2. su-gītamthe art of singing sweet songs
  3. vāditramthe art of playing musical instruments
  4. antardhānamthe art of disappearing
  5. caalso
  6. khe-carāḥdemigods traveling in outer space
  7. ṛṣayaḥthe great sages
  8. caalso
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”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “blessings”

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 does this verse broaden my understanding of what a gift can be?

Practice

Write the gifts under three headings: arts, blessings and a physical object.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayArts, Blessings and a ConchshellThis 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 4.15.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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