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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
4.15.44.15.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.15.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sagessince 4.15.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

इयं च सुदती देवी गुणभूषणभूषणा ।

अर्चिर्नाम वरारोहा पृथुमेवावरुन्धती ॥ ५ ॥

iyaṁ ca sudatī devī

guṇa-bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣaṇā

arcir nāma varārohā

pṛthum evāvarundhatī

Translation

The female has such beautiful teeth and beautiful qualities that she will actually beautify the ornaments she wears. Her name will be Arci. In the future she will accept King Pṛthu as her husband.

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.

Arci’s Qualities Beautify Her Ornaments

  1. 1

    The sages described the female as having beautiful teeth and beautiful qualities.

  2. 2

    Her beauty and qualities would beautify the ornaments she wore.

  3. 3

    Her name would be Arci, and in the future she would accept King Pṛthu as her husband.

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. iyamthis female child
  2. caand
  3. su-datīwho has very nice teeth
  4. devīthe goddess of fortune
  5. guṇaby good qualities
  6. bhūṣaṇaornaments
  7. bhūṣaṇāwho beautifies
  8. arciḥArci
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

What stands out to me about Arci beautifying her ornaments rather than merely being decorated by them?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on the beautiful qualities praised in this translation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayArci’s Qualities Beautify Her OrnamentsThis 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 4.15.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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