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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.16.164.16.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.16.17

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

मातृभक्ति: परस्त्रीषु पत्‍न्यामर्ध इवात्मन: । प्रजासु पितृवत्स्‍निग्ध: किङ्करो ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥ १७ ॥

mātṛ-bhaktiḥ para-strīṣu

patnyām ardha ivātmanaḥ

prajāsu pitṛvat snigdhaḥ

kiṅkaro brahma-vādinām

Translation

The King will respect all women as if they were his own mother, and he will treat his own wife as the other half of his body. He will be just like an affectionate father to his citizens, and he will treat himself as the most obedient servant of the devotees, who always preach the glories of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Learning Leads to Respectful Service

  1. 1

    A learned person treats women other than his wife as his mother, disregards others’ property, and treats others as himself. Education means practicing what one has learned, not merely holding degrees.

  2. 2

    Pṛthu would treat his wife as half of his own body and his citizens with a father’s affection. Although king, he considered himself an obedient servant of the Lord’s devotees.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The ideal state serves His devotees and follows their instructions.

Key points from the purport
  • A learned man treats all women except his wife as his mother, looks on others’ property as garbage in the street, and treats others as he would treat his own self.
  • Although he was the king, he treated himself as a servant of the Lord’s devotees.
  • Thus the word brahma-vādinām refers to the devotees of the Lord.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.16.17 quotesBG 10.12

This is accepted in Bhagavad-gītā (10.12) by Arjuna (paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mātṛ-bhaktiḥas respectful as one is to his mother
  2. para-strīṣuto other women
  3. patnyāmto his own wife
  4. ardhaḥhalf
  5. ivalike
  6. ātmanaḥof his body
  7. prajāsuunto the citizens
  8. pitṛ-vatlike a father
3

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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”, “father’s”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

Is what I have learned becoming visible in my respect for others and service to devotees?

Practice

Offer one small act of help today to a devotee who shares the glories of the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Learning Leads to Respectful ServiceThis 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 4.16.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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