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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
4.16.54.16.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.16.6

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The reciterssince 4.16.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वसु काल उपादत्ते काले चायं विमुञ्चति ।

सम: सर्वेषु भूतेषु प्रतपन् सूर्यवद्विभु: ॥ ६ ॥

vasu kāla upādatte

kāle cāyaṁ vimuñcati

samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu

pratapan sūryavad vibhuḥ

Translation

This King Pṛthu will be as powerful as the sun-god, and just as the sun-god equally distributes his sunshine to everyone, King Pṛthu will distribute his mercy equally. Similarly, just as the sun-god evaporates water for eight months and, during the rainy season, returns it profusely, this King will also exact taxes from the citizens and return these monies in times of need.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Collected Wealth Should Return as Care

  1. 1

    Like the sun distributing sunshine, Pṛthu would distribute mercy equally. His collection and return of taxes are compared to the sun drawing up water and returning it as rain.

  2. 2

    Tax revenues should support citizens in times of need, such as famine or flood. They are not meant for administrators’ sense gratification.

  3. 3

    The purport criticizes spending taxes on excessive salaries, allowances and personal comforts. As an ideal king, Pṛthu would manage public resources expertly for the citizens.

Key points from the purport
  • The process of tax exaction is very nicely explained in this verse.
  • Tax revenues should be distributed to the citizens in times of need, during emergencies such as famine or flood.
  • The sun is many millions of miles away from the earth, and although the sun does not actually touch the earth, it manages to distribute land all over the planet by exacting water from the oceans and seas, and it also manages to make that land fertile by distributing water during the rainy season.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vasuriches
  2. kālein due course of time
  3. upādatteexacts
  4. kālein due course of time
  5. caalso
  6. ayamthis King Pṛthu
  7. vimuñcatireturns
  8. samaḥequal
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”, “administrators’”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

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

When I am entrusted with resources, do I use them for others’ needs or my own comfort?

Practice

Identify one resource you manage and set aside a small portion to help someone in need.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCollected Wealth Should Return as CareThis 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 4.16.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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