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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.19.14.19.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.2

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

तदभिप्रेत्य भगवान् कर्मातिशयमात्मन: ।

शतक्रतुर्न ममृषे पृथोर्यज्ञमहोत्सवम् ॥ २ ॥

tad abhipretya bhagavān

karmātiśayam ātmanaḥ

śata-kratur na mamṛṣe

pṛthor yajña-mahotsavam

Translation

When the most powerful Indra, the King of heaven, saw this, he considered the fact that King Pṛthu was going to exceed him in fruitive activities. Thus Indra could not tolerate the great sacrificial ceremonies performed by King Pṛthu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Celebrate Others’ Advancement in Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Indra feared that Pṛthu would surpass him in fruitive activities and threaten his position. Even the King of heaven was not free from envy.

  2. 2

    One who is not free from envy cannot advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is meant for those who are nirmatsara, or nonenvious.

  3. 3

    When another person advances in devotional service, a devotee thinks how fortunate that person is. Such freedom from envy is typical of Vaikuṇṭha.

Key points from the purport
  • In the material world everyone who comes to enjoy himself or lord it over material nature is envious of others.
  • Since no one in this material world can tolerate another’s advancement, everyone in the material world is called matsara, envious.
  • However, when one is envious of his competitor, that is material.

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 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. tat abhipretyaconsidering this matter
  2. bhagavānthe most powerful
  3. karma-atiśayamexcelling in fruitive activities
  4. ātmanaḥof himself
  5. śata-kratuḥKing Indra, who had performed a hundred sacrifices
  6. nanot
  7. mamṛṣedid tolerate
  8. pṛthoḥof King Pṛthu
  9. yajñasacrificial
  10. mahā-utsavamgreat ceremonies
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “free from”

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 do I respond when someone advances beyond me in devotional service?

Practice

Offer one sincere word of appreciation for someone else’s devotional progress.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCelebrate Others’ Advancement in Devotional ServiceThis 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 4.19.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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