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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 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth
4.17.124.17.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.17.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

इति व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या प्रगृहीतशरासन: । सन्दधे विशिखं भूमे: क्रुद्धस्त्रिपुरहा यथा ॥ १३ ॥

iti vyavasito buddhyā

pragṛhīta-śarāsanaḥ

sandadhe viśikhaṁ bhūmeḥ

kruddhas tripura-hā yathā

Translation

Having arrived at a conclusion, the King took up his bow and arrow and aimed them at the earth, exactly like Lord Śiva, who destroys the whole world out of anger.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand the Cause Before Taking Action

  1. 1

    King Pṛthu found that the scarcity of food grains was not the people's fault. They were not lazy in executing their duties.

  2. 2

    The earth can produce sufficiently when everything is properly arranged. The purport challenges the idea that population increase alone explains scarcity.

  3. 3

    King Pṛthu discovered the proper causes and immediately took the necessary steps. He took up his bow and aimed an arrow at the earth.

Key points from the purport
  • King Pṛthu found out the cause for the scarcity of food grains.
  • Rather, the earth was not producing sufficient food grains.
  • King Pṛthu found out the proper causes and took the necessary steps immediately.

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 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth

Pṛthu pursues the cow-shaped earth, who offers prayers and appeals to his mercy.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.17
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. vyavasitaḥhaving arrived at the conclusion
  3. buddhyāby intelligence
  4. pragṛhītahaving taken up
  5. śarāsanaḥthe bow
  6. sandadhefixed
  7. viśikhaman arrow
  8. bhūmeḥat the earth
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “duties”

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

Do I understand the cause of a problem before blaming someone?

Practice

Before responding to one problem today, pause and check whether your first explanation is correct.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand the Cause Before Taking ActionThis 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 4.17.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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