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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
4.20.154.20.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.16

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Viṣṇusince 4.20.15inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वरं च मत्कञ्चन मानवेन्द्र

वृणीष्व तेऽहं गुणशीलयन्त्रित: ।

नाहं मखैर्वै सुलभस्तपोभि-

र्योगेन वा यत्समचित्तवर्ती ॥ १६ ॥

varaṁ ca mat kañcana mānavendra

vṛṇīṣva te ’haṁ guṇa-śīla-yantritaḥ

nāhaṁ makhair vai sulabhas tapobhir

yogena vā yat sama-citta-vartī

Translation

My dear King, I am very captivated by your elevated qualities and excellent behavior, and thus I am very favorably inclined toward you. You may therefore ask from Me any benediction you like. One who does not possess elevated qualities and behavior cannot possibly achieve My favor simply by performance of sacrifices, severe austerities or mystic yoga. But I always remain equipoised in the heart of one who is also equipoised in all circumstances.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Brings Forth Good Qualities

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu is pleased with Mahārāja Pṛthu's elevated character and behavior and offers him a benediction. Sacrifices, severe austerities and mystic yoga alone cannot win His favor.

  2. 2

    Unalloyed, unflinching devotional service brings out the soul's original good qualities. These qualities become manifest when the soul rises above the material modes of nature.

  3. 3

    A devotee is kind, peaceful, humble, self-controlled and completely attached to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord is satisfied by these transcendental qualities, not by artificial religious performances.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Viṣṇu was very pleased with Mahārāja Pṛthu’s good character and behavior and offered him a benediction.
  • The spirit soul, as part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has all the good qualities of the Lord.
  • The Lord is satisfied by development of the transcendental qualities of the living entity and not by artificial performance of sacrifices and mystic yoga.

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 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. varambenediction
  2. caalso
  3. matfrom Me
  4. kañcanawhatever you like
  5. mānava-indraO chief of human beings
  6. vṛṇīṣvaplease request
  7. teyour
  8. ahamI
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “favorably”, “favor”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.20

    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

Which quality of a devotee would you like to cultivate more carefully in your service to the Lord?

Practice

Choose kindness today: do one helpful act for someone as part of your devotional service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotion Brings Forth Good QualitiesThis 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 4.20.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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