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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 21: Instructions by Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.20.384.21.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.21.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

maitreya uvāca

mauktikaiḥ kusuma-sragbhir

dukūlaiḥ svarṇa-toraṇaiḥ

mahā-surabhibhir dhūpair

maṇḍitaṁ tatra tatra vai

Translation

The great sage Maitreya told Vidura: When the King entered his city, it was very beautifully decorated to receive him with pearls, flower garlands, beautiful cloth and golden gates, and the entire city was perfumed with highly fragrant incense.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Natural Gifts Can Spiritualize Our Surroundings

  1. 1

    Real opulence comes from natural gifts such as gold, pearls, fresh flowers, trees and silken cloth.

  2. 2

    Vedic civilization recommends decoration with these gifts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Such opulence changes the condition of the mind and spiritualizes the atmosphere. King Pṛthu’s capital was decorated in this way.

Key points from the purport
  • Real opulence is supplied by natural gifts such as gold, silver, pearls, valuable stones, fresh flowers, trees and silken cloth.
  • Thus the Vedic civilization recommends opulence and decoration with these natural gifts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • King Pṛthu’s capital was decorated with such highly opulent decorations.

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 21: Instructions by Mahārāja Pṛthu

Pṛthu addresses an assembly about devotional service and respect for brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya continued to speak
  2. mauktikaiḥwith pearls
  3. kusumaof flowers
  4. sragbhiḥwith garlands
  5. dukūlaiḥcloth
  6. svarṇagolden
  7. toraṇaiḥby gates
  8. mahā-surabhibhiḥhighly perfumed
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 4.21

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I appreciate natural beauty as a gift of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Place a fresh flower in a clean space today, remembering its source in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNatural Gifts Can Spiritualize Our SurroundingsThis 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 4.21.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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