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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
4.15.254.16.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.15.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Pṛthusince 4.15.26inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वयं त्वविदिता लोके सूताद्यापि वरीमभि: ।

कर्मभि: कथमात्मानं गापयिष्याम बालवत् ॥ २६ ॥

vayaṁ tv aviditā loke

sūtādyāpi varīmabhiḥ

karmabhiḥ katham ātmānaṁ

gāpayiṣyāma bālavat

Translation

King Pṛthu continued: My dear devotees, headed by the sūta, just now I am not very famous for my personal activities because I have not done anything praiseworthy you could glorify. Therefore how could I engage you in praising my activities exactly like children?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Let Praiseworthy Actions Come First

  1. 1

    King Pṛthu addressed the devotees headed by the sūta and said he was not yet famous for his personal activities.

  2. 2

    He explained that he had not yet done anything praiseworthy for them to glorify.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu would not engage others in praising his activities like children. He wanted praise to rest on actual deeds.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Fifteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “King Pṛthu’s Appearance and Coronation.”

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vayamwe
  2. tuthen
  3. aviditāḥnot famous
  4. lokein the world
  5. sūta-ādyaO persons headed by the sūta
  6. apijust now
  7. varīmabhiḥgreat, praiseworthy
  8. karmabhiḥby actions
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “glorify”

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

Am I more concerned with doing something worthy or with having others speak well of me?

Practice

Do one helpful action today without asking anyone to praise or publicize it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLet Praiseworthy Actions Come FirstThis 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 4.15.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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