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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
4.17.244.17.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.25

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

अमूषां क्षुत्परीतानामार्तानां परिदेवितम् । शमयिष्यामि मद्बाणैर्भिन्नायास्तव मेदसा ॥ २५ ॥

amūṣāṁ kṣut-parītānām

ārtānāṁ paridevitam

śamayiṣyāmi mad-bāṇair

bhinnāyās tava medasā

Translation

Now, with the help of my arrows, I shall cut you to pieces and with your flesh satisfy the hunger-stricken citizens, who are now crying for want of grains. Thus I shall satisfy the crying citizens of my kingdom.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Produce and Distribute Food Without Unnecessary Killing

  1. 1

    Human society must first try to produce food grains and vegetables. The purport permits flesh-eating only in rare circumstances of necessity when these efforts fail and people face acute food shortage.

  2. 2

    When sufficient food is available, killing animals merely to satisfy the tongue should not be sanctioned. Cows and other animals should receive sufficient grass.

  3. 3

    The earth produces sufficient grain to feed the population, but trade restrictions and the desire for profit obstruct distribution. Proper distribution would remove scarcity and the supposed need for slaughterhouses.

Key points from the purport
  • Here we find some indication of how the government can arrange for the eating of cow flesh.
  • However, when there is sufficient food, the government should not allow the eating of cow’s flesh just to satisfy the fastidious tongue.
  • As human society is presently structured, there is sufficient production of grains all over the world.

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. amūṣāmof all of them
  2. kṣut-parītānāmsuffering from hunger
  3. ārtānāmof the distressed
  4. paridevitamthe lamentation
  5. śamayiṣyāmiI shall pacify
  6. mat-bāṇaiḥby my arrows
  7. bhinnāyāḥbeing cut to pieces
  8. tavaof you
  9. medasāby the flesh
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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 4.17

    In this verse: “kingdom”, “citizens”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “crying”

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

How can my food choices and sharing help avoid unnecessary animal killing?

Practice

Share a meal made from grains and vegetables with someone who needs food.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProduce and Distribute Food Without Unnecessary KillingThis 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 4.17.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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