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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
4.16.244.16.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.16.25

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

एष स्वसद्मोपवने समेत्यसनत्कुमारं भगवन्तमेकम् । आराध्य भक्त्यालभतामलं तज्ज्ञानं यतो ब्रह्म परं विदन्ति ॥ २५ ॥

eṣa sva-sadmopavane sametya

sanat-kumāraṁ bhagavantam ekam

ārādhya bhaktyālabhatāmalaṁ taj

jñānaṁ yato brahma paraṁ vidanti

Translation

This King Pṛthu will meet Sanat-kumāra, one of the four Kumāras, in the garden of his palace compound. The King will worship him with devotion and will be fortunate to receive instructions by which one can enjoy transcendental bliss.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Spiritual Instruction with Devotion

  1. 1

    Pṛthu will meet Sanat-kumāra in his palace garden and worship him with devotion. He will receive instructions leading to transcendental bliss.

  2. 2

    Although Pṛthu was an incarnation of Viṣṇu, he taught people to receive instruction from a spiritual master representing the disciplic succession.

  3. 3

    Proper spiritual instruction enables one to understand and enjoy transcendental bliss. On the Brahman platform, one neither hankers nor laments.

Key points from the purport
  • When a person is properly instructed by a spiritual master and understands transcendental bliss, he enjoys life.
  • Thus one can become fortunate and enjoy a blissful life even within this material world.
  • Thus when a person understands Brahman, or the supreme source of everything, he enjoys a blissful life.

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 4.16.25 quotesBG 18.54

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.54), brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati: when one attains to the Brahman platform, he neither hankers nor laments, and he actually partakes of transcendental, blissful enjoyment.

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. eṣaḥthis King
  2. sva-sadmaof his palace
  3. upavanein the garden
  4. sametyameeting
  5. sanat-kumāramSanat-kumāra
  6. bhagavantamthe worshipable
  7. ekamalone
  8. ārādhyaworshiping
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 4.16

    In this verse: “devotion”, “worship”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “king”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “laments”

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 can I approach spiritual instruction with greater devotion and willingness to learn?

Practice

Spend five attentive minutes studying these spiritual instructions, and write down one teaching to remember.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.16's connections

Live this todayReceive Spiritual Instruction with DevotionThis 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 4.16.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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