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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
4.19.194.19.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.20

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

अत्रि: सन्दर्शयामास त्वरमाणं विहायसा ।

कपालखट्‍वाङ्गधरं वीरो नैनमबाधत ॥ २० ॥

atriḥ sandarśayām āsa

tvaramāṇaṁ vihāyasā

kapāla-khaṭvāṅga-dharaṁ

vīro nainam abādhata

Translation

The great sage Atri again pointed out to the son of King Pṛthu that Indra was fleeing through the sky. The great hero, the son of Pṛthu, chased him again. But when he saw that Indra was carrying in his hand a staff with a skull at the top and was again wearing the dress of a sannyāsī, he still chose not to kill him.

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 Disguise Again Prevents an Attack

  1. 1

    Atri again pointed out Indra fleeing through the sky, and Pṛthu’s heroic son pursued him.

  2. 2

    Indra was again dressed as a sannyāsī and carried a staff with a skull at its top.

  3. 3

    Seeing this appearance, Pṛthu’s son still chose not to kill him.

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. atriḥthe great sage Atri
  2. sandarśayām āsacaused to see
  3. tvaramāṇamgoing very hastily
  4. vihāyasāin the sky
  5. kapāla-khaṭvāṅgaa staff with a skull at the top
  6. dharamwho carried
  7. vīraḥthe hero (King Pṛthu’s son)
  8. nanot
  9. enamthe King of heaven, Indra
  10. abādhatakilled
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

Can an outward religious appearance keep me from examining someone’s actual conduct?

Practice

Before making one judgment about spiritual character today, pause to consider conduct as well as appearance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Disguise Again Prevents an AttackThis 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 4.19.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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