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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth
4.17.214.17.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.22

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Pṛthusince 4.17.22inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

पृथुरुवाच

वसुधे त्वां वधिष्यामि मच्छासनपराङ्‍मुखीम् । भागं बर्हिषि या वृङ्क्ते न तनोति च नो वसु ॥ २२ ॥

pṛthur uvāca

vasudhe tvāṁ vadhiṣyāmi

mac-chāsana-parāṅ-mukhīm

bhāgaṁ barhiṣi yā vṛṅkte

na tanoti ca no vasu

Translation

King Pṛthu replied to the earthly planet: My dear earth, you have disobeyed my orders and rulings. In the form of a demigod you accepted your share of the yajñas we performed, but in return you have not produced sufficient food grains. For this reason I must kill you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receiving a Share Brings Responsibility

  1. 1

    The earth had argued that she was innocent and should not be killed. Mahārāja Pṛthu replied by identifying her offenses.

  2. 2

    First, he said that she had disobeyed his orders and rulings. The purport identifies this as her first sinful activity.

  3. 3

    Second, she had accepted her share of the yajñas, or sacrifices, without producing sufficient food grains in return. Pṛthu gave these failures as his reasons for threatening to kill her.

Key points from the purport
  • The cow-shaped earthly planet submitted that she not only was a woman, but was innocent and sinless as well.
  • In reply, Mahārāja Pṛthu informed her that first of all she had disobeyed his orders.
  • Secondly he accused her of taking her share of the yajñas (sacrifices) but not producing sufficient food grains in return.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pṛthuḥ uvācaKing Pṛthu replied
  2. vasu-dhemy dear earthly planet
  3. tvāmyou
  4. vadhiṣyāmiI shall kill
  5. matmy
  6. śāsanarulings
  7. parāk-mukhīmdisobedient to
  8. bhāgamyour share
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 4.17

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “offenses”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “sinful”

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 fulfilling the responsibilities connected with the support I receive?

Practice

Complete one responsibility today that you owe to someone whose support you have accepted.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceiving a Share Brings ResponsibilityThis 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.

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