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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 16: Praise of King Pṛthu by the Professional Reciters
4.16.94.16.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.16.10

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The reciterssince 4.16.10inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अव्यक्तवर्त्मैष निगूढकार्योगम्भीरवेधा उपगुप्तवित्त: । अनन्तमाहात्म्यगुणैकधामापृथु: प्रचेता इव संवृतात्मा ॥ १० ॥

avyakta-vartmaiṣa nigūḍha-kāryo

gambhīra-vedhā upagupta-vittaḥ

ananta-māhātmya-guṇaika-dhāmā

pṛthuḥ pracetā iva saṁvṛtātmā

Translation

The reciters continued: No one will be able to understand the policies the King will follow. His activities will also be very confidential, and it will not be possible for anyone to know how he will make every activity successful. His treasury will always remain unknown to everyone. He will be the reservoir of unlimited glories and good qualities, and his position will be maintained and covered just as Varuṇa, the deity of the seas, is covered all around by water.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protect Wealth for Good Purposes

  1. 1

    Pṛthu’s policies and activities would be deeply confidential, like affairs hidden beneath the sea ruled by Varuṇa. His success rested on his unlimited glorious qualities.

  2. 2

    The extent of his treasury would remain unknown. The purport advises keeping hard-earned money confidential so it can later serve good, practical purposes.

  3. 3

    Protecting wealth is not an end in itself. Training in varṇāśrama-dharma should ensure that money is spent only for good causes.

Key points from the purport
  • Just as no one can understand what is going on beneath the sea, no one could understand what policy King Pṛthu was following to make everything successful.
  • The idea is that not only the king but everyone should keep his hard-earned money confidentially and secretly so that in due course of time the money can be spent for good, practical purposes.
  • Just as the king has the right to keep his treasury confidential and secret, the people should also keep their individual earnings a secret.

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 16: Praise of King Pṛthu by the Professional Reciters

Reciters describe Pṛthu’s future protection of citizens, service to devotees, and meeting with Sanat-kumāra.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.16
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. avyaktaunmanifested
  2. vartmāhis policies
  3. eṣaḥthis King
  4. nigūḍhaconfidential
  5. kāryaḥhis activities
  6. gambhīragrave, secret
  7. vedhāḥhis accomplishing
  8. upaguptasecretly kept
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “reciters”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “understand”

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 protecting my resources with a clear intention to use them for good?

Practice

Privately choose one good, practical purpose for a small portion of your savings or earnings.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtect Wealth for Good PurposesThis 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 4.16.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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