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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 19: King Pṛthu’s One Hundred Horse Sacrifices
4.19.314.19.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.32

Mukti· Liberation
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

पृथुकीर्ते: पृथोर्भूयात्तर्ह्येकोनशतक्रतु: । अलं ते क्रतुभि: स्विष्टैर्यद्भवान्मोक्षधर्मवित् ॥ ३२ ॥

pṛthu-kīrteḥ pṛthor bhūyāt

tarhy ekona-śata-kratuḥ

alaṁ te kratubhiḥ sviṣṭair

yad bhavān mokṣa-dharma-vit

Translation

“Let there be only ninety-nine sacrificial performances for Mahārāja Pṛthu,” Lord Brahmā concluded. Lord Brahmā then turned towards Mahārāja Pṛthu and informed him that since he was thoroughly aware of the path of liberation, what was the use in performing more sacrifices?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Is Beyond Ritual Achievement

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā asked Mahārāja Pṛthu to stop at ninety-nine sacrifices. As a great devotee who knew the path of liberation, he did not need further ritualistic ceremonies.

  2. 2

    Indra’s envy led him to invent irreligious systems to obstruct Pṛthu. Lord Brahmā appeared to stop these inventions and settle the competition.

  3. 3

    As an ideal king, Pṛthu had a duty to perform sacrifices. Through Lord Brahmā’s blessings, his determination was indirectly fulfilled without completing the hundredth sacrifice.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Brahmā came down to pacify King Pṛthu regarding his continual performance of one hundred sacrifices.
  • By the blessings of Lord Brahmā, King Pṛthu would become more famous than King Indra.
  • Thus Pṛthu’s determination to perform one hundred sacrifices was indirectly fulfilled by the blessings of Lord Brahmā.

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. pṛthu-kīrteḥof wide renown
  2. pṛthoḥof King Pṛthu
  3. bhūyātlet it be
  4. tarhitherefore
  5. eka-ūna-śata-kratuḥhe who performed ninety-nine yajñas
  6. alamthere is nothing to be gained
  7. teof you
  8. kratubhiḥby performing sacrifices
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

  • 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

Am I becoming more concerned with completing a religious achievement than with devotion?

Practice

Examine one devotional activity today and remind yourself that its purpose is service, not outdoing someone else.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Is Beyond Ritual AchievementThis 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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