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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
4.18.214.18.23-24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.18.22

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

तथाहयो दन्दशूका: सर्पा नागाश्च तक्षकम् ।

विधाय वत्सं दुदुहुर्बिलपात्रे विषं पय: ॥ २२ ॥

tathāhayo dandaśūkāḥ

sarpā nāgāś ca takṣakam

vidhāya vatsaṁ duduhur

bila-pātre viṣaṁ payaḥ

Translation

Thereafter cobras and snakes without hoods, large snakes, scorpions and many other poisonous animals took poison out of the planet earth as their milk and kept this poison in snake holes. They made a calf out of Takṣaka.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Provides; Association Shapes Character

  1. 1

    Even snakes, scorpions and other poisonous animals receive their sustenance by the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone takes food from the earth.

  2. 2

    According to one's association with the modes of material nature, one develops a particular character. Milk given to a serpent simply increases its venom.

  3. 3

    Milk supplied to a sage or saint helps develop finer brain tissues for contemplating higher, spiritual life. The Lord supplies food, but the living entity's association shapes how it is used.

Key points from the purport
  • Within this material world there are various types of living entities, and the different types of reptiles and scorpions mentioned in this verse are also provided with their sustenance by the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The point is that everyone is taking his eatables from the planet earth.
  • Thus the Lord is supplying everyone food, but according to the living entity’s association with the modes of material nature, the living entity develops his specific character.

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. tathāsimilarly
  2. ahayaḥsnakes without hoods
  3. dandaśūkāḥscorpions
  4. sarpāḥcobras
  5. nāgāḥbig snakes
  6. caand
  7. takṣakamTakṣaka, chief of the snakes
  8. vidhāyamaking
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “material”

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 is my present association helping or hindering my contemplation of spiritual life?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today reading this purport carefully as a small choice of spiritual association.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Provides; Association Shapes CharacterThis 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 4.18.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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