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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
4.19.304.19.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.31

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 4.19.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तदिदं पश्यत महद्धर्मव्यतिकरं द्विजा: ।

इन्द्रेणानुष्ठितं राज्ञ: कर्मैतद्विजिघांसता ॥ ३१ ॥

tad idaṁ paśyata mahad-

dharma-vyatikaraṁ dvijāḥ

indreṇānuṣṭhitaṁ rājñaḥ

karmaitad vijighāṁsatā

Translation

In order to make trouble and impede the performance of King Pṛthu’s great sacrifice, King Indra has adopted some means that in the future will destroy the clear path of religious life. I draw your attention to this fact. If you oppose him any further, he will further misuse his power and introduce many other irreligious systems.

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.

Avoid Escalation That Harms Religious Life

  1. 1

    Indra had adopted harmful means to obstruct King Pṛthu’s great sacrifice.

  2. 2

    Brahmā drew attention to the lasting danger: these methods would destroy the clear path of religious life.

  3. 3

    He warned that further opposition would lead Indra to misuse his power again and introduce more irreligious systems.

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. tatthen
  2. idamthis
  3. paśyatajust see
  4. mahatgreat
  5. dharmaof religious life
  6. vyatikaramviolation
  7. dvijāḥO great brāhmaṇas
  8. indreṇaby Indra
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: “religious”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “danger”

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

Could pressing a conflict further cause greater harm to spiritual life?

Practice

In one disagreement today, pause before replying and consider whether further opposition would deepen the harm.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAvoid Escalation That Harms Religious LifeThis 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.

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