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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
4.19.24.19.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.3

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

यत्र यज्ञपति: साक्षाद्भगवान् हरिरीश्वर: ।

अन्वभूयत सर्वात्मा सर्वलोकगुरु: प्रभु: ॥ ३ ॥

yatra yajña-patiḥ sākṣād

bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ

anvabhūyata sarvātmā

sarva-loka-guruḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is present in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul, and He is the proprietor of all planets and the enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices. He was personally present at the sacrifices made by King Pṛthu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Controller

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu personally attended Pṛthu’s sacrifices. Pṛthu was an empowered living entity, whereas Lord Viṣṇu is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Lord is called Hari because He takes away His devotees’ miserable conditions. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller and can free a surrendered devotee from all sinful reactions.

  3. 3

    The Lord is present in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul and supreme teacher. Taking the lessons of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā makes life successful.

Key points from the purport
  • Actually Pṛthu Mahārāja was a living entity, but he acquired specific powers from Lord Viṣṇu.
  • Lord Viṣṇu, however, is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus belongs to the category of viṣṇu-tattva.
  • Lord Viṣṇu is herein described as harir īśvaraḥ.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.19.3 quotesBG 18.66

He exhibits His powers as īśvara, or the supreme controller, when He assures His devotee in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66): “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. yatrawhere
  2. yajña-patiḥthe enjoyer of all sacrifices
  3. sākṣātdirectly
  4. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. hariḥLord Viṣṇu
  6. īśvaraḥthe supreme controller
  7. anvabhūyatabecame visible
  8. sarva-ātmāthe Supersoul of everyone
  9. sarva-loka-guruḥthe master of all planets, or the teacher of everyone
  10. prabhuḥthe proprietor
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees’”

  • 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

How can Kṛṣṇa’s assurance of protection help me surrender to Him?

Practice

Read Kṛṣṇa’s assurance quoted in the purport and offer a short prayer for help in surrendering to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme ControllerThis 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 4.19.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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