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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
4.17.264.17.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.27

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

त्वां स्तब्धां दुर्मदां नीत्वा मायागां तिलश: शरै: ।

आत्मयोगबलेनेमा धारयिष्याम्यहं प्रजा: ॥ २७ ॥

tvāṁ stabdhāṁ durmadāṁ nītvā

māyā-gāṁ tilaśaḥ śaraiḥ

ātma-yoga-balenemā

dhārayiṣyāmy ahaṁ prajāḥ

Translation

You are very much puffed up with pride and have become almost insane. Presently you have assumed the form of a cow by your mystic powers. Nonetheless I shall cut you into small pieces like grain, and I will uphold the entire population by my personal mystic powers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Upholds All Living Beings

  1. 1

    The earth had warned that destroying her would cause the king and his subjects to fall into the garbha ocean. Pṛthu Mahārāja replied that he could uphold everyone by his own mystic powers.

  2. 2

    As an incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, Pṛthu Mahārāja possessed the power of Saṅkarṣaṇa. He did not depend on the earth to support his citizens.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead holds millions of planets in space without support. He is Yogeśvara, the master of all mystic powers.

Key points from the purport
  • Although the earth assumed the shape of a cow by her mystic powers in order to be saved from being killed by the King, the King was aware of this fact and would not hesitate to cut her to pieces, just like small bits of grain.
  • As far as the destruction of the citizens is concerned, Mahārāja Pṛthu maintained that he could uphold everyone by his own mystic powers.
  • Consequently the planet earth was informed by the King that she need not worry about his standing without her help.

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. tvāmyou
  2. stabdhāmvery much puffed up
  3. durmadāmmad
  4. nītvābringing into such a condition
  5. māyā-gāmfalse cow
  6. tilaśaḥinto small particles like grains
  7. śaraiḥby my arrows
  8. ātmapersonal
3

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: “king”, “citizens”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “pride”

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

What does the Lord’s power to uphold the planets teach me about dependence on Him?

Practice

Look at the sky for a moment and remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s power to uphold the planets.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Upholds All Living BeingsThis 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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