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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 18: Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth Planet
4.18.314.19.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.18.32

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

प्राक्पृथोरिह नैवैषा पुरग्रामादिकल्पना ।

यथासुखं वसन्ति स्म तत्र तत्राकुतोभया: ॥ ३२ ॥

prāk pṛthor iha naivaiṣā

pura-grāmādi-kalpanā

yathā-sukhaṁ vasanti sma

tatra tatrākutobhayāḥ

Translation

Before the reign of King Pṛthu there was no planned arrangement for different cities, villages, pasturing grounds, etc. Everything was scattered, and everyone constructed his residential quarters according to his own convenience. However, from the time of King Pṛthu, plans were made for towns and villages.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Town Planning Has Ancient Roots

  1. 1

    Before King Pṛthu's reign, settlements were scattered and people built residences according to their own convenience. Planned arrangements began from his time.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that town and city planning is not a modern innovation. Regular planning can be seen in very old Indian cities.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa's capital, Dvārakā, was well planned even five thousand years ago. Mathurā and Hastināpura are also given as examples of well-planned ancient cities.

Key points from the purport
  • From this statement it appears that town and city planning is not new but has been coming down since the time of King Pṛthu.
  • Thus the planning of cities and towns is not a modern innovation but was existing in bygone ages.
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth Planet.”

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. prākbefore
  2. pṛthoḥKing Pṛthu
  3. ihaon this planet
  4. nanever
  5. evacertainly
  6. eṣāthis
  7. puraof towns
  8. grāma-ādiof villages, etc.
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

  • 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

Does this account challenge my tendency to assume that careful planning belongs only to modern times?

Practice

Write down one example from the purport that shows the ancient roots of city planning.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTown Planning Has Ancient RootsThis 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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