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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 20: Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.20.204.20.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.20.17inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स आदिराजो रचिताञ्जलिर्हरिं

विलोकितुं नाशकदश्रुलोचन: ।

न किञ्चनोवाच स बाष्पविक्लवो

हृदोपगुह्यामुमधादवस्थित: ॥ २१ ॥

sa ādi-rājo racitāñjalir hariṁ

vilokituṁ nāśakad aśru-locanaḥ

na kiñcanovāca sa bāṣpa-viklavo

hṛdopaguhyāmum adhād avasthitaḥ

Translation

The original king, Mahārāja Pṛthu, his eyes full of tears and his voice faltering and choked up, could neither see the Lord very distinctly nor speak to address the Lord in any way. He simply embraced the Lord within his heart and remained standing in that way with folded hands.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Responsible Leadership Supports Devotion

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja stood with folded hands, tears in his eyes and his voice choked with emotion. Unable to speak, he embraced the Lord within his heart.

  2. 2

    As the ideal king, Pṛthu protected his citizens and kept them engaged in pious activities and devotion to the Lord. He did not collect taxes without providing protection.

  3. 3

    Even a responsible king can become a pure devotee of the first order. The purport explains that spreading the pure message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam develops Kṛṣṇa consciousness and reduces lust and greed.

Key points from the purport
  • Just as Kṛṣṇa is addressed in the Brahma-saṁhitā as ādi-puruṣa, the original personality, so King Pṛthu, being an empowered incarnation of the Lord, is referred to in this verse as ādi-rājaḥ, the original or ideal king.
  • If the state head or king allows the citizens to become sinful by indulging in illicit sex life, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling, then the king is responsible, and he has to suffer the resultant sequence of reactions for the sinful lives of the citizens because he levies taxes on them unnecessarily.
  • Even a responsible king like Mahārāja Pṛthu can become a pure devotee of the first order.

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. saḥhe
  2. ādi-rājaḥthe original king
  3. racita-añjaliḥwith folded hands
  4. harimthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. vilokitumto look upon
  6. nanot
  7. aśakatwas able
  8. aśru-locanaḥhis eyes full of tears
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”, “citizens”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “lust”

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 can I carry out my responsibilities while encouraging devotion rather than greed?

Practice

Read a short passage of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam today with the intention of becoming purer in your daily responsibilities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayResponsible Leadership Supports DevotionThis 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 4.20.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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