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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.19.24-25

Who is speaking and story frame

एवमिन्द्रे हरत्यश्वं वैन्ययज्ञजिघांसया ।

तद्गृहीतविसृष्टेषु पाखण्डेषु मतिर्नृणाम् ॥ २४ ॥

धर्म इत्युपधर्मेषु नग्नरक्तपटादिषु ।

प्रायेण सज्जते भ्रान्त्या पेशलेषु च वाग्मिषु ॥ २५ ॥

evam indre haraty aśvaṁ

vainya-yajña-jighāṁsayā

tad-gṛhīta-visṛṣṭeṣu

pākhaṇḍeṣu matir nṛṇām

dharma ity upadharmeṣu

nagna-rakta-paṭādiṣu

prāyeṇa sajjate bhrāntyā

peśaleṣu ca vāgmiṣu

Translation

In this way King Indra, in order to steal the horse from King Pṛthu’s sacrifice, adopted several orders of sannyāsa. Some sannyāsīs go naked, and sometimes they wear red garments and pass under the name of kāpālika. These are simply symbolic representations of their sinful activities. These so-called sannyāsīs are very much appreciated by sinful men because they are all godless atheists and very expert in putting forward arguments and reasons to support their case. We must know, however, that they are only passing as adherents of religion and are not so in fact. Unfortunately, bewildered persons accept them as religious, and being attracted to them, they spoil their life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Religion Means Surrender and Service

  1. 1

    False religious teachers can be expert in arguments and persuasive speech. Those bewildered by their appearance may accept them as religious and spoil their lives.

  2. 2

    The purport describes people in Kali as short-lived, lacking spiritual knowledge and vulnerable to false religious systems. Accepting sannyāsa for cheating does not make someone genuinely religious.

  3. 3

    Actual religion is surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We must serve the Lord in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, men in this Age of Kali are short-lived, devoid of spiritual knowledge, and susceptible to accept false religious systems due to their unfortunate condition.
  • All other systems of sannyāsa and religion are actually not bona fide.
  • In this age they are simply passing for religious systems.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. indrewhen the King of heaven
  3. haratistole
  4. aśvamthe horse
  5. vainyaof the son of King Vena
  6. yajñathe sacrifice
  7. jighāṁsayāwith a desire to stop
  8. tatby him
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”, “religious”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

Does the guidance I accept lead me toward surrender and service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer one brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa today, asking to serve Him sincerely.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Religion Means Surrender and 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 4.19.24-25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.