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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 19: King Pṛthu’s One Hundred Horse Sacrifices
4.19.144.19.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.19.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वधान्निवृत्तं तं भूयो हन्तवेऽत्रिरचोदयत् ।

जहि यज्ञहनं तात महेन्द्रं विबुधाधमम् ॥ १५ ॥

vadhān nivṛttaṁ taṁ bhūyo

hantave ’trir acodayat

jahi yajña-hanaṁ tāta

mahendraṁ vibudhādhamam

Translation

When Atri Muni saw that the son of King Pṛthu did not kill Indra but returned deceived by him, Atri Muni again instructed him to kill the heavenly King because he thought that Indra had become the lowliest of all demigods due to his impeding the execution of King Pṛthu’s sacrifice.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Obstructing Sacrifice Degrades Even Heavenly Rank

  1. 1

    Pṛthu’s son returned without killing Indra because he had been deceived.

  2. 2

    Atri Muni again instructed him to kill the heavenly King for obstructing Pṛthu’s sacrifice.

  3. 3

    Atri considered Indra the lowliest of all demigods because of this obstruction. Indra’s heavenly rank did not excuse his conduct.

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 19: King Pṛthu’s One Hundred Horse Sacrifices

Indra repeatedly takes the sacrificial horse, and Brahmā restrains Pṛthu’s anger.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vadhātfrom killing
  2. nivṛttamstopped
  3. tamthe son of Pṛthu
  4. bhūyaḥagain
  5. hantavefor the purpose of killing
  6. atriḥthe great sage Atri
  7. acodayatencouraged
  8. jahikill
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 4.19

    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

Could my actions be hindering someone else’s sincere religious practice?

Practice

Give someone quiet, uninterrupted time for their religious practice today.

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 4.19's connections

Live this todayObstructing Sacrifice Degrades Even Heavenly RankThis 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 4.19.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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