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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
4.21.94.21.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 4.21.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

को न्वस्य कीर्तिं न श‍ृणोत्यभिज्ञो

यद्विक्रमोच्छिष्टमशेषभूपा: ।

लोका: सपाला उपजीवन्ति काम-

मद्यापि तन्मे वद कर्म शुद्धम् ॥ १० ॥

ko nv asya kīrtiṁ na śṛṇoty abhijño

yad-vikramocchiṣṭam aśeṣa-bhūpāḥ

lokāḥ sa-pālā upajīvanti kāmam

adyāpi tan me vada karma śuddham

Translation

Pṛthu Mahārāja was so great in his activities and magnanimous in his method of ruling that all the kings and demigods on the various planets still follow in his footsteps. Who is there who will not try to hear about his glorious activities? I wish to hear more and more about Pṛthu Mahārāja because his activities are so pious and auspicious.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Repeatedly to Learn Faithful Leadership

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja’s activities and magnanimous rule provide an example followed by kings and demigods on various planets.

  2. 2

    Vidura wished to hear more and more about his pious and auspicious activities. His repeated hearing set an example for rulers seeking the peace and prosperity of their people.

  3. 3

    The purport connects neglect of Pṛthu Mahārāja’s example with a lack of happiness and spiritual progress. It identifies progress in spiritual understanding as the aim of human life.

Key points from the purport
  • Saint Vidura’s purpose in hearing about Pṛthu Mahārāja over and over again was to set an example for ordinary kings and executive heads, who should all be inclined to hear repeatedly about Pṛthu Mahārāja’s activities in order to also be able to rule over their kingdoms or states very faithfully for the peace and prosperity of the people in general.
  • Unfortunately, at the present moment no one cares to hear about Pṛthu Mahārāja or to follow in his footsteps; therefore no nation in the world is either happy or progressive in spiritual understanding, although that is the sole aim and objective of human life.

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. kaḥwho
  2. nubut
  3. asyaKing Pṛthu
  4. kīrtimglorious activities
  5. na śṛṇotidoes not hear
  6. abhijñaḥintelligent
  7. yathis
  8. vikramachivalry
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: “kings”, “rulers”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “understanding”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What might repeated hearing teach me that a single reading could miss?

Practice

Read this verse again today and note one quality of Pṛthu Mahārāja’s leadership you want to follow.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Repeatedly to Learn Faithful LeadershipThis 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 4.21.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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