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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
4.17.274.17.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

एवं मन्युमयीं मूर्तिं कृतान्तमिव बिभ्रतम् ।

प्रणता प्राञ्जलि: प्राह मही सञ्जातवेपथु: ॥ २८ ॥

evaṁ manyumayīṁ mūrtiṁ

kṛtāntam iva bibhratam

praṇatā prāñjaliḥ prāha

mahī sañjāta-vepathuḥ

Translation

At this time Pṛthu Mahārāja became exactly like Yamarāja, and his whole body appeared very angry. In other words, he was anger personified. After hearing him, the planet earth began to tremble. She surrendered, and with folded hands began to speak as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter Rather Than Challenge the Lord

  1. 1

    Seeing Pṛthu Mahārāja as anger and death personified, the earth began to tremble. She surrendered and spoke with folded hands.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is death personified to miscreants and the supreme beloved Lord to devotees.

  3. 3

    No one can challenge the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The purport advises surrendering to Him and taking His protection at all times.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead is death personified to miscreants and the supreme beloved Lord to the devotees.
  • Similarly, the planet earth saw Mahārāja Pṛthu as death personified, and she also saw him in the mood of anger personified.
  • One cannot challenge the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in any circumstance.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.17.28 quotesBG 10.34

In Bhagavad-gītā (10.34) the Lord says, mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham: “I am all-devouring death.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. evamthus
  2. manyu-mayīmvery much angry
  3. mūrtimform
  4. kṛta-antamdeath personified, Yamarāja
  5. ivalike
  6. bibhratampossessing
  7. praṇatāsurrendered
  8. prāñjaliḥwith folded hands
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “surrendered”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

Where am I resisting the Lord’s authority rather than seeking His shelter?

Practice

Fold your hands and offer a brief prayer asking for the Lord’s protection and help in surrendering.

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 todayTake Shelter Rather Than Challenge the LordThis 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 4.17.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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