1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

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 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth
4.17.14.17.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.17.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ब्राह्मणप्रमुखान् वर्णान् भृत्यामात्यपुरोधस: । पौराञ्जानपदान् श्रेणी: प्रकृती: समपूजयत् ॥ २ ॥

brāhmaṇa-pramukhān varṇān

bhṛtyāmātya-purodhasaḥ

paurāñ jāna-padān śreṇīḥ

prakṛtīḥ samapūjayat

Translation

King Pṛthu thus satisfied and offered all respect to all the leaders of the brāhmaṇas and other castes, to his servants, to his ministers and to the priests, citizens, general countrymen, people from other communities, admirers and others, and thus they all became happy.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Respect to Everyone

  1. 1

    King Pṛthu offered respect to the leaders of the brāhmaṇas and the other castes.

  2. 2

    His care extended to servants, ministers, priests, citizens, countrymen and people from other communities.

  3. 3

    By satisfying and respecting all these people, he made them happy.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brāhmaṇa-pramukhānunto the leaders of the brāhmaṇa community
  2. varṇānto the other castes
  3. bhṛtyaservants
  4. amātyaministers
  5. purodhasaḥto the priests
  6. paurānto the citizens
  7. jāna-padānto his countrymen
  8. śreṇīḥto different communities
  9. prakṛtīḥto the admirers
  10. samapūjayathe gave proper respects
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”, “citizens”

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 offer respect only to prominent people, or also to those whose work is less noticed?

Practice

Offer a sincere word of appreciation to someone whose service you often overlook.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Respect to EveryoneThis 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 4.17.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories