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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
4.19.394.19.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.19.40

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.19.39inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

कृतावभृथस्‍नानाय पृथवे भूरिकर्मणे । वरान्ददुस्ते वरदा ये तद्बर्हिषि तर्पिता: ॥ ४० ॥

kṛtāvabhṛtha-snānāya

pṛthave bhūri-karmaṇe

varān dadus te varadā

ye tad-barhiṣi tarpitāḥ

Translation

After this, Pṛthu Mahārāja took his bath, which is customarily taken after the performance of a yajña, and received the benedictions and due blessings of the demigods, who were very pleased by his glorious activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve the Lord, Satisfy Everyone

  1. 1

    All yajña is meant to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu. The demigods were pleased with Pṛthu’s activities and gave him blessings.

  2. 2

    Satisfying Lord Viṣṇu automatically satisfies the demigods, just as watering a tree’s root nourishes its branches and leaves.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee does not ask the demigods directly for benedictions. The devotee’s only business is to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • In the same way, if one simply satisfies Lord Viṣṇu by the performance of yajña, one satisfies all the demigods automatically.
  • A pure devotee therefore does not ask benedictions directly from the demigods.
  • Thus he is never in need of those things supplied by the demigods.

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. kṛtahaving performed
  2. avabhṛtha-snānāyataking a bath after the sacrifice
  3. pṛthaveunto King Pṛthu
  4. bhūri-karmaṇefamous for performing many virtuous acts
  5. varānbenedictions
  6. daduḥgave
  7. teall of them
  8. vara-dāḥthe demigods, bestowers of benedictions
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.19

    In this verse: “blessings”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 my worship centered on serving the Lord or on obtaining separate benefits?

Practice

Offer one act of service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead today without asking for a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe the Lord, Satisfy EveryoneThis 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 4.19.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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