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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
4.18.64.18.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.18.7

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

अपालितानाद‍ृता च भवद्‌भिर्लोकपालकै: ।

चोरीभूतेऽथ लोकेऽहं यज्ञार्थेऽग्रसमोषधी: ॥ ७ ॥

apālitānādṛtā ca

bhavadbhir loka-pālakaiḥ

corī-bhūte ’tha loke ’haṁ

yajñārthe ’grasam oṣadhīḥ

Translation

My dear King, not only are grains and herbs being used by nondevotees, but, as far as I am concerned, I am not being properly maintained. Indeed, I am being neglected by kings who are not punishing these rascals who have turned into thieves by using grains for sense gratification. Consequently I have hidden all these seeds, which were meant for the performance of sacrifice.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer First, Then Accept Prasāda

  1. 1

    The earth said she had hidden seeds meant for sacrifice because they were being misused and she was not properly maintained.

  2. 2

    All property belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The purport calls taking food without offering it to Him theft.

  3. 3

    Accepting food after offering it to the Lord is the process of accepting prasāda. Rulers also have a duty to maintain the world and check misuse of its resources.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore despite such productive capacities there is scarcity because the world’s population is full of thieves.
  • According to Vedic understanding, men are transformed into thieves when they plan economic development for sense gratification.
  • The population has a right to use goods only after offering them to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. apālitāwithout being taken care of
  2. anādṛtābeing neglected
  3. caalso
  4. bhavadbhiḥlike your good self
  5. loka-pālakaiḥby the governors or kings
  6. corī-bhūtebeing beset by thieves
  7. athatherefore
  8. lokethis world
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”, “rulers”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “duty”

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 would remembering the Lord's ownership change the way I receive my food?

Practice

Offer your food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead before eating, and accept it as prasāda.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.18's connections

Live this todayOffer First, Then Accept PrasādaThis 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 4.18.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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