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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
4.17.234.17.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.24

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

त्वं खल्वोषधिबीजानि प्राक् सृष्टानि स्वयम्भुवा । न मुञ्चस्यात्मरुद्धानि मामवज्ञाय मन्दधी: ॥ २४ ॥

tvaṁ khalv oṣadhi-bījāni

prāk sṛṣṭāni svayambhuvā

na muñcasy ātma-ruddhāni

mām avajñāya manda-dhīḥ

Translation

You have so lost your intelligence that, despite my orders, you do not deliver the seeds of herbs and grains formerly created by Brahmā and now hidden within yourself.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Investigate and Remedy Food Scarcity

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā created seeds of grains, herbs, plants and trees along with the planets. With sufficient rainfall, these seeds produce food.

  2. 2

    The earth was hiding the seeds within herself and not delivering them despite Pṛthu Mahārāja’s orders.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu Mahārāja’s example teaches that government leaders should investigate why food production is held up. They should take steps to rectify the situation.

Key points from the purport
  • While creating all the planets in the universe, Lord Brahmā also created the seeds of various grains, herbs, plants and trees.
  • When sufficient water falls from the clouds, the seeds fructify and produce fruits, grains, vegetables, etc. By his example, Pṛthu Mahārāja indicates that whenever there is a scarcity in food production, the head of the government should take steps to see why production is being held up and what should be done to rectify the situation.

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. tvamyou
  2. khalucertainly
  3. oṣadhiof herbs, plants and grains
  4. bījānithe seeds
  5. prākformerly
  6. sṛṣṭānicreated
  7. svayambhuvāby Lord Brahmā
  8. nado not
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: “government”

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 a necessary supply is lacking, do I look carefully for the cause?

Practice

Identify one obstacle to obtaining or growing food in your household or community, and note one possible remedy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayInvestigate and Remedy Food ScarcityThis 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 4.17.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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