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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
4.16.74.16.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.16.8

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

देवेऽवर्षत्यसौ देवो नरदेववपुर्हरि: ।

कृच्छ्रप्राणा: प्रजा ह्येष रक्षिष्यत्यञ्जसेन्द्रवत् ॥ ८ ॥

deve ’varṣaty asau devo

naradeva-vapur hariḥ

kṛcchra-prāṇāḥ prajā hy eṣa

rakṣiṣyaty añjasendravat

Translation

When there is no rainfall and the citizens are in great danger due to the scarcity of water, this royal Personality of Godhead will be able to supply rains exactly like the heavenly King Indra. Thus he will very easily be able to protect the citizens from drought.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Protection Is Independent

  1. 1

    Indra is responsible for distributing rain. If he failed to perform that duty, Pṛthu could personally supply rain and protect citizens from drought.

  2. 2

    As an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Pṛthu did not depend on Indra’s mercy. His godly powers could counteract a shortage of rain.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa also showed such protecting power in Vṛndāvana. When Indra sent incessant rain, Kṛṣṇa raised Govardhana Hill over the inhabitants like a great umbrella.

Key points from the purport
  • King Pṛthu is very appropriately compared to the sun and the demigod Indra.
  • King Indra of the heavenly planets is in charge of distributing water over the earth and other planetary systems.
  • King Pṛthu, however, being an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not depend on the mercy of the heavenly King.

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. devewhen the demigod (Indra)
  2. avarṣatidoes not supply rains
  3. asauthat
  4. devaḥMahārāja Pṛthu
  5. nara-devaof the king
  6. vapuḥhaving the body
  7. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. kṛcchra-prāṇāḥsuffering living entities
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “danger”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.16

    In this verse: “protect”

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

What does Pṛthu’s independence from Indra teach me about the Lord’s protecting power?

Practice

Spend a minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s protection of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana under Govardhana Hill.

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 todayThe Lord’s Protection Is IndependentThis 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 4.16.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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