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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
4.19.154.19.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.16

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

एवं वैन्यसुत: प्रोक्तस्त्वरमाणं विहायसा ।

अन्वद्रवदभिक्रुद्धो रावणं गृध्रराडिव ॥ १६ ॥

evaṁ vainya-sutaḥ proktas

tvaramāṇaṁ vihāyasā

anvadravad abhikruddho

rāvaṇaṁ gṛdhra-rāḍ iva

Translation

Being thus informed, the grandson of King Vena immediately began to follow Indra, who was fleeing through the sky in great haste. He was very angry with him, and he chased him just as the king of the vultures chased Rāvaṇa.

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.

The Pursuit Resumes With Determination

  1. 1

    After receiving instruction, the grandson of King Vena immediately resumed following Indra.

  2. 2

    Indra fled through the sky in great haste, while his pursuer was very angry with him.

  3. 3

    The translation compares this pursuit to the king of the vultures chasing Rāvaṇa.

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. evamthus
  2. vainya-sutaḥthe son of King Pṛthu
  3. proktaḥbeing ordered
  4. tvaramāṇamIndra, who was moving hastily
  5. vihāyasāin the sky
  6. anvadravatbegan to chase
  7. abhikruddhaḥbeing very angry
  8. rāvaṇamRāvaṇa
  9. gṛdhra-rāṭthe king of vultures
  10. ivalike
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

When needed guidance becomes clear, am I willing to resume a difficult responsibility?

Practice

Take one small step on a responsibility you paused while waiting for clarification.

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 todayThe Pursuit Resumes With DeterminationThis 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 4.19.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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