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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
4.17.84.17.10-11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.9

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.17.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

यदाभिषिक्त: पृथुरङ्ग विप्रै-रामन्त्रितो जनतायाश्च पाल: । प्रजा निरन्ने क्षितिपृष्ठ एत्यक्षुत्क्षामदेहा: पतिमभ्यवोचन् ॥ ९ ॥

maitreya uvāca

yadābhiṣiktaḥ pṛthur aṅga viprair

āmantrito janatāyāś ca pālaḥ

prajā niranne kṣiti-pṛṣṭha etya

kṣut-kṣāma-dehāḥ patim abhyavocan

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, at the time King Pṛthu was enthroned by the great sages and brāhmaṇas and declared to be the protector of the citizens, there was a scarcity of food grains. The citizens actually became skinny due to starvation. Therefore they came before the King and informed him of their real situation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Leadership Must Protect and Provide

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇas selected qualified rulers and guided royal power. They enthroned King Pṛthu as protector of the citizens.

  2. 2

    The purport describes varṇāśrama-dharma as God-made: brāhmaṇas guide, kṣatriyas protect, vaiśyas protect cows and produce and distribute food grains, and śūdras assist through manual labor.

  3. 3

    When scarcity left the citizens thin from starvation, they approached Pṛthu. They informed their protector that action was needed.

Key points from the purport
  • In other words, the brāhmaṇas, the intelligent men or great sages, would control the monarchical powers.
  • Here we have an indication of how the brāhmaṇas elected King Pṛthu to the throne as the protector of the citizens.
  • The structure of the varṇāśrama-dharma was so nice that the brāhmaṇas would guide the head of state.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya said
  2. yadāwhen
  3. abhiṣiktaḥwas enthroned
  4. pṛthuḥKing Pṛthu
  5. aṅgamy dear Vidura
  6. vipraiḥby the brāhmaṇas
  7. āmantritaḥwas declared
  8. janatāyāḥof the people
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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: “king”, “citizens”, “rulers”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “protector”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “varṇāśrama-dharma”

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 does this account connect authority with responsibility for people’s basic needs?

Practice

Ask someone under your care whether they have a practical need that requires attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 todayLeadership Must Protect and ProvideThis 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 4.17.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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