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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
4.19.354.19.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.36

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

एभिरिन्द्रोपसंसृष्टै: पाखण्डैर्हारिभिर्जनम् । ह्रियमाणं विचक्ष्वैनं यस्ते यज्ञध्रुगश्वमुट् ॥ ३६ ॥

ebhir indropasaṁsṛṣṭaiḥ

pākhaṇḍair hāribhir janam

hriyamāṇaṁ vicakṣvainaṁ

yas te yajña-dhrug aśva-muṭ

Translation

Just see how Indra, the King of heaven, was creating a disturbance in the midst of the sacrifice by stealing the sacrificial horse. These attractive sinful activities he has introduced will be carried out by the people in general.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship Through Saṅkīrtana, Not Harmful Imitation

  1. 1

    People follow the actions and standards of influential persons. Indra’s attractive false guise of a sannyāsī was therefore dangerous.

  2. 2

    Sacrifices should be stopped when they encourage results contrary to their purpose. In Kali-yuga, qualified brahminical priests are lacking for the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies.

  3. 3

    The śāstras therefore recommend saṅkīrtana-yajña. Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is present as Lord Caitanya, and this sacrifice is the easiest way to satisfy Him in this age.

Key points from the purport
  • A similar stance was taken by Lord Buddha when people were overly engrossed in the animal sacrifices recommended by Vedic instructions.
  • Actually, in the sacrifices the slaughtered animals were given a new life, but people without such powers were taking advantage of such Vedic rituals and unnecessarily killing poor animals.
  • Lord Viṣṇu, or Lord Kṛṣṇa, is present in His form of Lord Caitanya; therefore people who are intelligent should try to satisfy Him by performing saṅkīrtana-yajña.

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 4.19.36 quotesBG 3.21

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.21): “Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps.

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. ebhiḥby these
  2. indra-upasaṁsṛṣṭaiḥcreated by the King of heaven, Indra
  3. pākhaṇḍaiḥsinful activities
  4. hāribhiḥvery attractive to the heart
  5. janamthe people in general
  6. hriyamāṇambeing carried away
  7. vicakṣvajust see
  8. enamthese
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

  • 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”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “dangerous”

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 choosing worship that genuinely satisfies the Lord rather than merely appears impressive?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today chanting the holy names of the Lord as an offering of worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship Through Saṅkīrtana, Not Harmful ImitationThis 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 4.19.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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