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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
4.17.254.17.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.26

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

पुमान् योषिदुत क्लीब आत्मसम्भावनोऽधम: । भूतेषु निरनुक्रोशो नृपाणां तद्वधोऽवध: ॥ २६ ॥

pumān yoṣid uta klība

ātma-sambhāvano ’dhamaḥ

bhūteṣu niranukrośo

nṛpāṇāṁ tad-vadho ’vadhaḥ

Translation

Any cruel person — be he a man, woman or impotent eunuch — who is only interested in his personal maintenance and has no compassion for other living entities may be killed by the king. Such killing can never be considered actual killing.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Compassion Reaches Beyond Personal Welfare

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja condemns cruel self-maintenance without compassion for others. His argument concerns the king’s responsibility toward such citizens.

  2. 2

    A devotee who is personally satisfied but does not preach Kṛṣṇa’s glories is not considered first-class. A superior devotee compassionately tries to help innocent people who have no knowledge of Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Prahlāda Mahārāja did not seek liberation for himself alone. He wished that all fallen souls could be delivered.

Key points from the purport
  • The planet earth is actually a woman in her constitutional form, and as such she needs to be protected by the king.
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja argues, however, that if a citizen within the state — be he man, woman or eunuch — is not compassionate upon his fellow men, he or she may be killed by the king, and such killing is never to be considered actual killing.
  • Even in the material field, if a person is not interested in others’ welfare, he should be considered to be condemned by the Personality of Godhead or His incarnation like Pṛthu Mahārāja.

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. pumāna man
  2. yoṣita woman
  3. utaalso
  4. klībaḥa eunuch
  5. ātma-sambhāvanaḥinterested in self-maintenance
  6. adhamaḥlowest of humankind
  7. bhūteṣuto other living entities
  8. niranukrośaḥwithout compassion
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”, “king’s”, “citizens”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “compassion”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “devotee”

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

Does my spiritual life include concern for people who do not know Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Gently share one teaching about Kṛṣṇa with someone willing to hear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.17's connections

Live this todayCompassion Reaches Beyond Personal WelfareThis 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 4.17.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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