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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
4.18.254.18.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.18.26

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

सर्वे स्वमुख्यवत्सेन स्वे स्वे पात्रे पृथक् पय: ।

सर्वकामदुघां पृथ्वीं दुदुहु: पृथुभाविताम् ॥ २६ ॥

sarve sva-mukhya-vatsena

sve sve pātre pṛthak payaḥ

sarva-kāma-dughāṁ pṛthvīṁ

duduhuḥ pṛthu-bhāvitām

Translation

The planet earth supplied everyone his respective food. During the time of King Pṛthu, the earth was fully under the control of the King. Thus all the inhabitants of the earth could get their food supply by creating various types of calves and putting their particular types of milk in various pots.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

One Lord Supplies Everyone's Necessities

  1. 1

    Under King Pṛthu's control, the earth supplied everyone with their respective food. Different inhabitants used different calves and pots.

  2. 2

    Although the Lord is one, He supplies everyone's necessities through the planet earth. The purport presents this provision as evidence of His care.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that different planets produce foods suited to their residents. According to the Vedic śāstras, the moon also has living entities and food.

Key points from the purport
  • This is evidence that the Lord supplies food to everyone.
  • Every planet produces different types of food according to the needs of its residents.
  • According to the Vedic śāstras, it is not true that the moon does not produce food or that no living entity is living there.

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. sarveall
  2. sva-mukhyaby their own chiefs
  3. vatsenaas the calf
  4. sve svein their own
  5. pātrepots
  6. pṛthakdifferent
  7. payaḥmilk
  8. sarva-kāmaall desirables
3

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 4.18

    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

How might remembering the Lord's provision change my attitude toward daily necessities?

Practice

Before eating today, pause to acknowledge that the Lord supplies your food through the earth.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOne Lord Supplies Everyone's NecessitiesThis 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.

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