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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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 20: Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.20.124.20.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.13

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Viṣṇusince 4.20.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सम: समानोत्तममध्यमाधम:

सुखे च दु:खे च जितेन्द्रियाशय: ।

मयोपक्लृप्ताखिललोकसंयुतो

विधत्स्व वीराखिललोकरक्षणम् ॥ १३ ॥

samaḥ samānottama-madhyamādhamaḥ

sukhe ca duḥkhe ca jitendriyāśayaḥ

mayopakḷptākhila-loka-saṁyuto

vidhatsva vīrākhila-loka-rakṣaṇam

Translation

My dear heroic King, please keep yourself always equipoised and treat people equally, whether they are greater than you, in the intermediate stage or lower than you. Do not be disturbed by temporary distress or happiness. Fully control your mind and senses. In this transcendental position, try to execute your duty as king in whatever condition of life you may be posted by My arrangement, for your only duty here is to give protection to the citizens of your kingdom.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Lord's Directions With Steadiness

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu instructs Pṛthu Mahārāja to treat people equally, control his mind and senses, and remain steady in happiness and distress. His duty as king is to protect the citizens.

  2. 2

    One should receive orders from Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or His bona fide representative, the spiritual master. These instructions should be accepted as one's life and soul, without personal considerations.

  3. 3

    The Lord guides us in devotional service through the spiritual master, who should not be regarded as an ordinary person. Sincerely following these instructions keeps one free from the contamination of bodily and material activities.

Key points from the purport
  • One has to execute the order of Lord Viṣṇu, whether receiving it directly from Him or from His bona fide representative, the spiritual master.
  • The Lord says, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāva-manyeta karhicit: one should not treat the spiritual master as an ordinary human being, for he is the substitute for the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Bhāg. 11.17.27).
  • If we follow the instruction of the spiritual master and execute devotional service to the Lord, we will remain always free from the contamination of bodily and material activities, and our life will be successful.

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 4.20.13 quotesSB 11.17.27

The Lord says, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāva-manyeta karhicit: one should not treat the spiritual master as an ordinary human being, for he is the substitute for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 20: Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja Pṛthu

Lord Viṣṇu appears with Indra, instructs Pṛthu, and receives his worship and devotional prayers.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. samaḥequipoised
  2. samānaall equal
  3. uttamaone who is greater
  4. madhyamaone who is in an intermediate position
  5. adhamaḥone who is in a lower standard of life
  6. sukhein happiness
  7. caand
  8. duḥkhein distress
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”, “kingdom”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “protection”, “protect”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “distress”

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

What personal preference sometimes makes it difficult for you to follow the Lord's instructions sincerely?

Practice

In one interaction today, practice the Lord's instruction to treat people equally, without favoring someone because of their position.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 11.17.27

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.20's connections

Live this todayFollow the Lord's Directions With SteadinessThis 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 4.20.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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