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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
4.18.284.18.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.18.29

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

चूर्णयन् स्वधनुष्कोट्या गिरिकूटानि राजराट् ।

भूमण्डलमिदं वैन्य: प्रायश्चक्रे समं विभु: ॥ २९ ॥

cūrṇayan sva-dhanuṣ-koṭyā

giri-kūṭāni rāja-rāṭ

bhū-maṇḍalam idaṁ vainyaḥ

prāyaś cakre samaṁ vibhuḥ

Translation

After this, the king of all kings, Mahārāja Pṛthu, leveled all rough places on the surface of the globe by breaking up the hills with the strength of his bow. By his grace the surface of the globe almost became flat.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pṛthu Personally Leveled the Rough Places

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Pṛthu broke up the hills with the strength of his bow. By his grace, the earth's surface became almost flat.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that mountainous and hilly portions are generally flattened by thunderbolts. This is generally the business of King Indra.

  3. 3

    King Pṛthu, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not wait for Indra. He personally used his strong bow to do the work.

Key points from the purport
  • Generally the mountainous and hilly portions of the earth are made flat by the striking of thunderbolts.
  • Generally this is the business of King Indra of the heavenly planets, but King Pṛthu, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not wait for King Indra to break up the hills and mountains but did so himself by using his strong bow.

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. cūrṇayanmaking into pieces
  2. svahis own
  3. dhanuḥ-koṭyāby the power of his bow
  4. giriof the hills
  5. kūṭānithe tops
  6. rāja-rāṭthe emperor
  7. bhū-maṇḍalamthe whole earth
  8. idamthis
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “grace”

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 needed task could I take responsibility for rather than simply waiting for someone else?

Practice

Complete one small, safe task today that you have been leaving for someone else.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPṛthu Personally Leveled the Rough PlacesThis 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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