1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.20.14.20.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 4.20.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

श्रीभगवानुवाच

एष तेऽकार्षीद्भङ्गं हयमेधशतस्य ह ।

क्षमापयत आत्मानममुष्य क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥ २ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

eṣa te ’kārṣīd bhaṅgaṁ

haya-medha-śatasya ha

kṣamāpayata ātmānam

amuṣya kṣantum arhasi

Translation

Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, said: My dear King Pṛthu, Indra, the King of heaven, has disturbed your execution of one hundred sacrifices. Now he has come with Me to be forgiven by you. Therefore excuse him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Forgive With Spiritual Understanding

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu asked King Pṛthu to forgive Indra, who had disturbed his sacrifices and had now come seeking forgiveness.

  2. 2

    A transcendentalist never accepts a living being to be the body. The body is only a superficial covering.

  3. 3

    The individual self is part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The self and the Superself are qualitatively nondifferent.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse the word ātmānam is very significant.
  • Since the individual self is part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the self and the Superself are qualitatively nondifferent.
  • As the next verse will explain, the body is only a superficial covering, and consequently an advanced transcendentalist will not make a distinction between one self and another.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, spoke
  2. eṣaḥthis Lord Indra
  3. teyour
  4. akārṣītperformed
  5. bhaṅgamdisturbance
  6. hayahorse
  7. medhasacrifice
  8. śatasyaof the one-hundredth
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

  • 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

How might seeing another person as a spiritual self help me forgive?

Practice

Recall one small offense and make a conscious effort to forgive, remembering that the person is not merely the body.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayForgive With Spiritual UnderstandingThis 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 4.20.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories