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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 18: Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth Planet
4.18.9-104.18.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.18.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.18.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

समां च कुरु मां राजन्देववृष्टं यथा पय: ।

अपर्तावपि भद्रं ते उपावर्तेत मे विभो ॥ ११ ॥

samāṁ ca kuru māṁ rājan

deva-vṛṣṭaṁ yathā payaḥ

apartāv api bhadraṁ te

upāvarteta me vibho

Translation

My dear King, may I inform you that you have to make the entire surface of the globe level. This will help me, even when the rainy season has ceased. Rainfall comes by the mercy of King Indra. Rainfall will remain on the surface of the globe, always keeping the earth moistened, and thus it will be auspicious for all kinds of production.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prepare Land to Retain Rainfall

  1. 1

    The earth asked King Pṛthu to level her surface so that rainwater could remain after the rainy season.

  2. 2

    Rainfall comes by the mercy of King Indra, who is in charge of rainfall and thunderbolts.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that level land is especially favorable for producing grain. Retained rainfall keeps the earth moist and supports production.

Key points from the purport
  • King Indra of the heavenly planets is in charge of throwing thunderbolts and giving rainfall.
  • Level land is especially conducive to the production of grain.
  • Thus the planet earth requested Mahārāja Pṛthu to level the surface of the earth, breaking up the high land and mountains.

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 18: Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth Planet

Pṛthu and others milk the earth; he provides citizens with food, employment, and places to live.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. samāmequally level
  2. caalso
  3. kurumake
  4. māmme
  5. rājanO King
  6. deva-vṛṣṭamfallen as rain by the mercy of King Indra
  7. yathāso that
  8. payaḥwater
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “mercy”, “favorable”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “king”

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 this verse teach me about preparing land to make good use of rainfall?

Practice

Observe a patch of soil after watering or rain, and notice where water stays and where it runs away.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPrepare Land to Retain RainfallThis 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 4.18.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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