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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
4.18.14.18.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.18.2

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

सन्नियच्छाभिभो मन्युं निबोध श्रावितं च मे ।

सर्वत: सारमादत्ते यथा मधुकरो बुध: ॥ २ ॥

sanniyacchābhibho manyuṁ

nibodha śrāvitaṁ ca me

sarvataḥ sāram ādatte

yathā madhu-karo budhaḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, please pacify your anger completely and hear patiently whatever I submit before you. Please turn your kind attention to this. I may be very poor, but a learned man takes the essence of knowledge from all places, just as a bumblebee collects honey from each and every flower.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Patiently Gather the Essence of Knowledge

  1. 1

    The earth asked the King to pacify his anger and hear her patiently.

  2. 2

    A learned person accepts the essence of knowledge from all places, just as a bumblebee collects honey from every flower.

  3. 3

    The earth's humble position was not a reason to dismiss what she had to say.

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. sanniyacchaplease pacify
  2. abhibhoO King
  3. manyumanger
  4. nibodhatry to understand
  5. śrāvitamwhat is said
  6. caalso
  7. meby me
  8. sarvataḥfrom everywhere
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “humble”

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

Do I overlook useful knowledge because I consider its speaker unimportant?

Practice

Listen to someone today without interrupting, and identify one useful point in what they say.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPatiently Gather the Essence of KnowledgeThis 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 4.18.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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