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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
4.19.224.19.24-25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.23

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

यानि रूपाणि जगृहे इन्द्रो हयजिहीर्षया ।

तानि पापस्य खण्डानि लिङ्गं खण्डमिहोच्यते ॥ २३ ॥

yāni rūpāṇi jagṛhe

indro haya-jihīrṣayā

tāni pāpasya khaṇḍāni

liṅgaṁ khaṇḍam ihocyate

Translation

Whatever different forms Indra assumed as a mendicant because of his desire to seize the horse were symbols of atheistic philosophy.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Genuine Spiritual Succession

  1. 1

    Indra’s mendicant disguises, adopted to steal the horse, became symbols of atheistic philosophy. The purport traces this false sannyāsa to his jealousy of Mahārāja Pṛthu.

  2. 2

    Sannyāsa should be accepted according to the paramparā system of the ācāryas. A religious title without understanding God consciousness is not enough.

  3. 3

    The purport warns against inventing religious systems out of malice. It also teaches that even Brahmā and Śiva cannot be placed on an equal level with Nārāyaṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Vedic civilization, sannyāsa is one of the essential items in the program of the varṇāśrama institution.
  • One should accept sannyāsa according to the paramparā system of the ācāryas.
  • Although it is forbidden, there are many pāṣaṇḍīs who coin terms like daridra-nārāyaṇa and svāmi-nārāyaṇa, although not even such demigods as Brahmā and Śiva can be equal to Nārāyaṇa.

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. yāniall those which
  2. rūpāṇiforms
  3. jagṛheaccepted
  4. indraḥthe King of heaven
  5. hayathe horse
  6. jihīrṣayāwith a desire to steal
  7. tāniall those
  8. pāpasyaof sinful activities
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “philosophy”, “understanding”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “religious”

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

Am I seeking genuine God consciousness through an authorized spiritual tradition?

Practice

Review one spiritual teaching you follow and check whether it comes through the paramparā of the ācāryas.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow Genuine Spiritual SuccessionThis 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 4.19.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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