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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
4.16.254.16.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.16.26

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
A turning point forMahārāja Pṛthu· The king is established

तत्र तत्र गिरस्तास्ता इति विश्रुतविक्रम: । श्रोष्यत्यात्माश्रिता गाथा: पृथु: पृथुपराक्रम: ॥ २६ ॥

tatra tatra giras tās tā

iti viśruta-vikramaḥ

śroṣyaty ātmāśritā gāthāḥ

pṛthuḥ pṛthu-parākramaḥ

Translation

In this way, when the chivalrous activities of King Pṛthu come to be known to the people in general, King Pṛthu will always hear about himself and his uniquely powerful activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Reputation Needs No Artificial Advertising

  1. 1

    Pṛthu’s chivalrous and uniquely powerful activities will become widely known. He will hear people recounting them.

  2. 2

    Artificially advertising oneself to enjoy a so-called reputation is a kind of conceit.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu Mahārāja became famous through his actual activities, without artificial self-promotion. One’s factual reputation cannot be covered.

Key points from the purport
  • To artificially advertise oneself and thus enjoy a so-called reputation is a kind of conceit.
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja was famous amongst the people because of his chivalrous activities.

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. tatra tatrahere and there
  2. giraḥwords
  3. tāḥ tāḥmany, various
  4. itithus
  5. viśruta-vikramaḥhe whose chivalrous activities are widely reputed
  6. śroṣyatiwill hear
  7. ātma-āśritāḥabout himself
  8. gāthāḥsongs, narrations
  9. pṛthuḥKing Pṛthu
  10. pṛthu-parākramaḥdistinctly powerful
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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 4.16

    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

Am I more concerned with doing something worthwhile or with being noticed?

Practice

Do one helpful task today without drawing attention to yourself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReal Reputation Needs No Artificial AdvertisingThis 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 4.16.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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