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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
4.19.344.19.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.35

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 4.19.35inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

क्रतुर्विरमतामेष देवेषु दुरवग्रह: ।

धर्मव्यतिकरो यत्र पाखण्डैरिन्द्रनिर्मितै: ॥ ३५ ॥

kratur viramatām eṣa

deveṣu duravagrahaḥ

dharma-vyatikaro yatra

pākhaṇḍair indra-nirmitaiḥ

Translation

Lord Brahmā continued: Stop the performance of these sacrifices, for they have induced Indra to introduce so many irreligious aspects. You should know very well that even amongst the demigods there are many unwanted desires.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

End Competition That Encourages Irreligion

  1. 1

    The desire to enjoy material pleasures produces competition and envy. This can appear in both ordinary business and the performance of sacrifices.

  2. 2

    Even among the demigods there are unwanted desires. Indra’s rivalry had led him to introduce irreligious practices.

  3. 3

    Lord Brahmā asked Pṛthu, a great devotee and incarnation of God, to stop the sacrifices. Ending the competition would prevent Indra from introducing further irreligious systems.

Key points from the purport
  • There are many competitors in ordinary business affairs, and the karma-kāṇḍa chapters of the Vedas sometimes cause competition and envy amongst karmīs.
  • Consequently there is always competition amongst karmīs, either in ordinary business affairs or in the performance of yajña.
  • Because Mahārāja Pṛthu was a great devotee and incarnation of God, he was requested to stop the sacrifices so that Indra might not further introduce irreligious systems, which are always followed by criminal-minded people.

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. kratuḥthe sacrifice
  2. viramatāmlet it stop
  3. eṣaḥthis
  4. deveṣuamongst the demigods
  5. duravagrahaḥaddiction to unwanted things
  6. dharma-vyatikaraḥviolation of religious principles
  7. yatrawhere
  8. pākhaṇḍaiḥby sinful activities
  9. indraby the King of heaven
  10. nirmitaiḥmanufactured
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “material”

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

Is a desire to surpass someone else influencing my religious activities?

Practice

In one activity today, set aside comparison with others and concentrate on doing your own service sincerely.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEnd Competition That Encourages IrreligionThis 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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