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
4.20.344.20.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.20.35-36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.20.34inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

देवर्षिपितृगन्धर्वसिद्धचारणपन्नगा: ।

किन्नराप्सरसो मर्त्या: खगा भूतान्यनेकश: ॥ ३५ ॥

यज्ञेश्वरधिया राज्ञा वाग्वित्ताञ्जलिभक्तित: ।

सभाजिता ययु: सर्वे वैकुण्ठानुगतास्तत: ॥ ३६ ॥

devarṣi-pitṛ-gandharva-

siddha-cāraṇa-pannagāḥ

kinnarāpsaraso martyāḥ

khagā bhūtāny anekaśaḥ

yajñeśvara-dhiyā rājñā

vāg-vittāñjali-bhaktitaḥ

sabhājitā yayuḥ sarve

vaikuṇṭhānugatās tataḥ

Translation

King Pṛthu worshiped the demigods, the great sages, the inhabitants of Pitṛloka, the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka, and those of Siddhaloka, Cāraṇaloka, Pannagaloka, Kinnaraloka, Apsaroloka, the earthly planets and the planets of the birds. He also worshiped many other living entities who presented themselves in the sacrificial arena. With folded hands he worshiped all these, as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the personal associates of the Lord, by offering sweet words and as much wealth as possible. After this function, they all went back to their respective abodes, following in the footsteps of Lord Viṣṇu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Others and Value Loving Service

  1. 1

    King Pṛthu honored the assembled living entities, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His personal associates. He offered folded hands, sweet words and as much wealth as possible.

  2. 2

    The Vedic literatures describe varieties of living entities throughout the material and spiritual planets. Living entities share one spiritual nature, though in the material world they have different material bodies.

  3. 3

    In the spiritual sky, the inhabitants engage in varieties of loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa displays His original pastimes in this world to attract conditioned souls back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The Vedas give information that in all planets — not only within this material sky but also in the spiritual sky — there are varieties of living entities.
  • Although all these living entities are of one spiritual nature, in quality the same as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they have varieties of bodies due to the embodiment of the spirit soul by the eight material elements, namely earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intelligence and false ego.
  • Beyond the planetary systems in the material sky, there is another sky, which is known as paravyoma, or the spiritual sky, where there are spiritual planets.

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. devathe demigods
  2. ṛṣithe great sages
  3. pitṛinhabitants of Pitṛloka
  4. gandharvainhabitants of Gandharvaloka
  5. siddhainhabitants of Siddhaloka
  6. cāraṇainhabitants of Cāraṇaloka
  7. pannagāḥinhabitants of the planets where serpents live
  8. kinnarainhabitants of the Kinnara planets
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • 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 can remembering our shared spiritual nature help me offer others genuine respect?

Practice

Offer someone a few sincere, respectful words today, remembering that living entities share one spiritual nature.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Others and Value Loving ServiceThis 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 4.20.35-36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.